TAKING TALLY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 516, 25 May 1909, Page 10

TAKING TALLY.

THE HAWKE'S BAY VIEW OF THINCS. AN INTERESTING SKETCH. . ' In the course of his communication to the Annual Provincial Conference of the Hawke's Bay Farmers'. Union, on Friday, the retiring president, Mr. H. M. Sandei's, advocated an effort in the coming year lo revive interest in the union work, and start new branches. The progress of rural-edu-cation, including nature study, and school gardens, wonid, be hoped, be the means ct making country life more interesting, and thereby induce people to stay in the country instead.of (locking to the towns. Somo Hope for Grown Leaseholders.. ;,_ Tho Minister for Lands was now Sir Joseph Ward, and although this ■ was probably only a temporary appointment, it was satisfactory.-to think that Sir Joseph's inclination was toward freehold, so that they might yet see him proposing some more equitable terms for the Crown tenants to convert their Jeasjholds into freeholds. ■ The union was firmly convinced that such a change would bo better for the settlement of-tho country, and also better for the State. During the last year a great deal of controversy over the regranting of a lease to tenants who held small grazing runs, and it was very gratifying to think that the action of the union, in securing tho Crown tenants the right to elect a representative on the Land Board, was practically the means of adjusting what seemed a grievous wrong. In passing from this subject to the nest, Mr. Sanders mentioned that tho fruitgrowers in Hawke's Bay wero now an important community, with oxtensive cultivation ■ and canning, and ho wisheJ that they'could bo induced to join tho union. Sheep-Crazing ExpDrimnnts ■. Tho experiments, conducted by the Agricultural Cepartmont, in conjunction ' with the union, and with the agricultural anij pastoral associations, had been <WarmlyHaken up, and would, bo was sure, result in more interest being taken:/in farming. . The old systenv of turning out sheep, and bringing them in only to. shear, had' passed ' away, and tho successful study of how to grow the best pasture and winter food for them must take its place. This could only bo accomplished by 'experiment; for climate and soils varied to such an extent that no one coiild dogmatise from experience elsewhere. He hoped, therefore, that further experiments in grazing sheep on manured land would be undertaken. . ■' ■, . '■

The circumstances of farming and country .life, dependent as they were on tho weather, were so complex that there must always be a great deal of give and take in tho relation of-employer to employee. -,But bo thought that the lnnd-owning . community should try and make the lives of their workers as pleasant as possible, by giving them good homos, and the. means of educating and amusing themselves when not at work. He was sure that, when such-was done, the employees would show their appreciation of the improved treatment by their work.. Wool Prices. Prices for wool a little while ago looked very unpromising, but Hawke's Bay had been fortunate. Tho exceptional climate, which suited sheep so well, gave the Hawke's Bay wool a special value,, and many clips had been sold aV nearly the same prices as last year. As the clips have been good ones on the whole, the returns had been much better' than expected.. The phenomenal Taintall in somo parts of the province this seahowever,, would ,probably result in the coming clip not being so attractive' ae last year s, but, on tho other, hand, the growth of .grass would ensure the stock goinc through the winter in good condition. Missed the Bis Wheat Prices. The grain-grower had T.ot'been so fortunate, and, as the settlers on some of the resumed estates depended a good deal on this class of produce, the year was not so encouraging for. them. Wheat, -which was tho one class of produce fetching good prices, was not grown in Hawke's Bay 'as much as it ought to be. Therefore, tho high price would not benefit many. Witli such land as they had, and a splendid climato for ripening .gram, it only required experiment to show wnat kind to grow and how to grow it, for Hawkes Bay to take its place in.the wheatgrowing areas of New Zealand. He hoped that some enterprising farmers would allow them to arrange experiments in this grain, similar to those undertaken elsewhere, to be carried on by them in conjunction with the Agricultural Department. He felt sure tliat -they would then soon arrive at a profitable production of wheat.

Fat Stock and Dairying. .Neither has it been a good year for those who fattened stock, for prices in London fiad fallen so low as to reduce the price of fat lambs to a point: not hitherto reached since,the trade began. The dairy farmers, especially m the bush, had had a rood seainn, with high prices and plentiful output The prospect for next ycai , - was riot so promising, and ho expected tho. dairy farmers would have to accept lower prices.