NOTES BY THE WAY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 13

NOTES BY THE WAY

FARMERS’ REVENUE A table of figures showing the prices realised at the North and MidCanterbury ewe fairs in the last 10 years conveys a realisation* of the extraordinarily wide variation that has ruled, and incidentally, suggests the hopelessness of forecasting the farmers’ revenue with any degree of accuracy. The table comprises the operations of one of the firms which probably transacts something like 35 per cent, of the ewe fair business at the 12 lairs extending from Kaikoura to Methven, so that the variation in gross revenue by all firms resulting from the gyrations of the market can be estimated on approximately that basis. In 1929 the total number of sheep sold at the 12 fairs by the firm was 66.267, and the value £102,640, and a head price 28s 6d; in 1931 the value had dropped to 8s 4d a head, in 1932 improved to 9s lOd, in 1933 declined to 7? 2d, in 1937 it had jumped to 255, and this year it was down to 19s Bd. The figures of the total value and that a head are informative;

The drop of from 28s 6d in 1929 a season of big prices—to 7s 2d in 1933, shows how disastrously the farmers’ income from this one branch of stock was affected. On the assumption that the total revenue in 1937 from the fairs was approximately £300,000, that for 1938 was about £245.000. but in the latter year there were 4000 more sheep sold by the firm instanced. These figures take no cognisance of the large number of ewes sold privately and at the stock sales. It was the 1937 figures which provided the basis for estimating farmers* revenue, so it is to be feared that when wool, skins, sheep, lambs, etc., are brought in there will be a wide discrepancy with the 1938 figures, and that is without considering the increased costs to secure this revenue.

VALUE OF SHEEPSKINS The value of sheepskins to-day bears a very sorry comparison with those of last yeac The best halfbred, nearly full woolled, has been selling recently at 6s 6d a skin. In April of last year half wools were making round about 20s, and in September, 12 months ago, 12s 6d. The decline in the value of skins appears to have outstripped that for wool quite substantially. It is difficult to account for the steepness of the drop. If the present value can be taken as a forecast for the ensuing season, fatteners for the local market will not have much of a "comeback” from their quarter and half wool skins. One observer remarked to "Straggler” that skins looked to be the best of all sheep products for speculation at the moment.

WEST COAST FARMS An article In yesterday’s issue of “The Press” reported the utterances of the Hon. P. C. Webb, to the effect that it was intended to undertake by the Public Works Department a wholesale clearance of land Infested with logs, stumps, blackberry, etc., and to turn it into productive farms. This step has long been pointed out as a work of value in dealing with unemployment. The - work should be almost immediately productive, provided the land can be cleared and brought in at an economical price. The statement of the Minister that the Department’s modern machinery would be made available for the work should allay apprehensions on this part. A few powerful caterpillar tractors to log-up and pull stumps might suffice in this respect, with gelignite to blow up the more intractable stumps, ana flame throwers to assist in the burning of the light bush, manuka, blackberry, etc., after it is crushed down by the tractors. The amount of draining by big machinery would be limited by the prevalence of submerged timber, but if the watercourses were cleared of stumps and blackberry and gorse, it might be found that the actual amount of draining would not be extensive. Lime would be essential to sweeten up this class of land after being so long sodden with surface water, but most of the land which would best respond to lime is within 40 or 50 miles of good grade supplies. A. start is to be made with Crown lands, which is the correct policy, and as thousands of acres of this class ot country are served by good roads and railways the result should be a marked increase in a few years in the productivity of the Coast. The Minister spoke optimistically of the possibilities of reclaiming the pakihi lands, but this is something of a gamble—the other is not.

BREEDING REMOUNTS In view of the decision of the Government to put into effect the Remounts Encouragement Act, passea some years ago, with the object ot breeding horses suitable for remounts, it is interesting, to note that the horse has regained much of its former importance in several of the more militaristic nations.' The Russians have been buying horses from East Prussia, France, and Ireland during the last three years, and, according to Dr. G. Rau, of Berlin, an effort is being made to bring the number of horses in that country up to pre-war figures, 17,000.000. From the “Field Artillery Journal” it is learnt that, as the result of lessons gathered on the Spanish battle fields, the horse has won back his place in the German military sphere, and the army of that nation is partially demechanising its artillery; it is stated that Germany has now 100,000 horses used in artillery and cavalry.

Total Average Value a head. £ s. d. 1929 .. 102,640 28 6 1930 .. 72.573 19 0 1931 .. 28.809 8 4 1932 .. 32,556 9 10 1933 30,724 7 2 1934 85,034 20 3 1935 .. 70.437 16 8 1936 .. 93,200 23 11 1937 .. 101.250 25 0 1938 ., 83.500 19 8