FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1328, 4 January 1912, Page 8

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

OUR PRODUCE AT-HOME. BUTTER' SHOULD HE ■ ADVERTISE!}. A number of points of speciul interest lo producers wore discussed in-a comprehensive . address; , uontniniiiit nmujpracticul suggestions mid valuable, comments, given recently before the Cold Storage and-Ice Association,. London,, by Major .Norton, D.5.0.,. it former Trade Commissioner-for South .. Australia ' in •England. The handling of frozen produce formed tho basis of his remarks, [laving emphasised tho pointthaUthe suggestions which he proposed to put forward wore tile-result of several years' careful and unbiased observation and practical . experience.. at both ends of the great.frozen produce'industry—in Australia and Xeiv the United Kingdom— the lecturer snid the Auslrniinn . producers, must!realise -to the fullest.extent ■two important facts—(l) The- necessity fo'r giving to tho markets of. the'world what they required,, rather 'than -what they .themselves.-.- thought, was., good enough; and (2) the continuity of supplies. . -' .•'.'.,

•In relation lo live first, point,.he. had inuc.li sympathy with-the producers, for in the- niajbrity. of-instances they were suffering from, too. much information of various kinds. They were 'continually having served np.to tbeul -reports written by gentlemcir whose, conclusions were .sometimes arrived at after only superficial and hurried inquiries. The impression left upon one's, mind by such reports was that a lot of.improvement was required oh the English side, but it was seldom, eveii hinted-that there might be faults on' both'-sides. 'As regarded the. regular supplies, the .uncertainty of a continuance of shipments frequently had a mot'e baneful effect upon the prices obtainable, for- certain -lines than the methods of marketing, and that v,a* clearly a case where the producer rather than the'selling.agent was to blame.' Tho various btatc Governments, and theCommonwealth Government, together with .iuany of 'the more enterprising ex-', porting -.firms'; had done and were still doing exceedingly good work in educating the producers in the matter of. growing,' grading, and packing their produce for the Home-markets. The growth of cooperation among producers was also another - means of education, and shortly should assist to minimise the multiplicity of .marks, which were a predominant fault on the Australian side. The muchabused Commonwealth Commerce Art was another step in the right direction, and 1 already had materially helped legitimate shippers to obtain better prices for their produce. The Act was not perfect, but- tho desired alterations, no- doubt, would bo effected in duo course. , TIiE.COL'NTEY OFOMGIN. . An important point often discussed by critics of-the system of marketing in England was that, so-much, of the frozen and-chilled.'produce from-Australia and New Zealand, wiis not .sold as from -. the "country of origin." In the interests of shippers, he was. sure Hint tho' time was ripe for,-some of the lines, at .any rate, to be disposed of. in that maimer. .Allowing that 'it; .was; .however, who was ■to blame? , The trader-in the -United Kingdom had-to-buy- at as-low a figure as-possible, amLsell to I ho- best 'advantage ito himself; and; unless" the .public,demanded >that it should to otherwise, it.might ■ suit.his .purpose..to.sell j(s.iy),Australian or-New 7,6 aland ■ butter, as coming, from some other Country, although ho.did'not assert that that was done. What had 1 the Australian producers done to ensure that the excellence of their butter, • for example, was being brought prominently 'befonvthc .British public? The, various State and Federal Govornn'ients had rendered admirable' service by advertising' and • exhibiting Australian produce, at trade 'shows, and giving lectures, but so far as butter was .'concerned the time-was absolutely ripe, when a far more comprehensive'-system of advertising should.be adopted, and-at least half, the entire, cost of that work should -be .borne by tho producers most directly benefited.

Dealing; with the faults on the English, side, far 100 large a, proportion of the Australian .produce was centred in London. As a .consequence, the best net returns did not reach the producers. Ho referred-particularly to frozen .meat and fresh fruit. ._ He was convinced that; a more even distribution to other ports in fho United Kingdom would -result, in a tetter...net. .return.-.to .tho . shipper......Jn_ London they had practically the li'iaii-" liuiinof handling, and,what must inevitably follow, the; maximum amount of .damage."""Hull, 'Avon'mouth. and ..Manchester offered unic{Ue facilities, and. .the .lowest sealo of charges'. Following upon the excessive claims made on the underwriters for damage, the insurance rates had increased about-50 per cent, during the last four years.

At present -a large proportion of the mutton and lamb-that entered London from oversea was consumed, in the big manufacturing and colliery centres north of Birmingham. I'rorn tho. geographical position of those places, it appeared only reasonable to believe that they could be more economically .served from cither-of the northern ports than from London. The midlands and tho thickly-populated centres- in South "Wales and the AVest of ■ England could, in .their turn,.- bo better served from one. of the natural ports for the:district.- : By adopling-.a more even distribution the minimum of handling would be obtained, considerable- re-duction-in insurance rates .should ■ follow, ■and,-ii great saving would be eft'ccled in dock and .«t?rc, charges - anil- railw-av freights. '.-■'• ... ... .' '

i'or the time being he did not see that anynltrmate'advanfago'was to bo gained ■by shipping butter other tlran-direct to London; and was confident, that the prices for Australian .and New-Zealand •nutter'-.could be much better'.r'eguljited and controlled if the- whole e'ntput Was consigned: 'It was'tempting'to-tW shipper to--sell-, outright r ivhcn eicepi'pnallv high: prices were offered, but experience •had convinced "him..that the shipper 'of. frozen . produce, no matter what, it -Was, who. consistently r.onsignvl ovtr a scries of years, was the best•oft'.in tho long run. and his-position .would bo even ■•better if .overybody'adopted that principle.- : •

; SHOW DATES. January 31.—Bush Districts A. and P. .'Association, at .Woodville. . . ' January, 31.-rHoroivhenua A. and V. As- '. sociation, at .Levin. February. (T and |7.—'Koilrling•A. and.-P. Association, at Fcilding. February 7—Central A. and P. Association, at Waipuknrau.. February, S.-rl'aliiatua A. and. F. Association, at Pahinl.ua. ... February I(.—Dannovirkc A. and V. Association, at. Uannevirkc. l!am Fair, •February la. February 1.>.-i\Vniin.irino A. P. n. and I. Association, at l.'netihi. February arid. 21— Ma'sterton A., and V.,, Association, at "Solway," ; Jl'n.sterton. '■'.'. 'February 2S.—Kaiigitikei A. and P. 'As- ,. sociation, at Taiha'pc.

. XAI'IJGR 'H'Opf, SALKS. S'UC'CESSr.'D'I, miSULTfi. .'..•U.tlic first A'apier wool sales prices ewedetl • sellers', uxpcctntions, in somo enjcs'-li)'- thp extent of 2d. per lb. .Top price of tlio salt! was reached for lil bales, halfbred, sold on account.of tho'estate of the lute \V. H. .Small, I'eniside, (Mane, which realised 113 d. per lb. The fnllowinj; clips; also sold well, viz:—Mr. (f. It. Beamish. Whunn Whana. fine crossbred, to 10|d.; Mr. A. liobottom, Otano. fino crossbred, to Mil.; Mr. A. A. 'Small'/ Oktiliu, fino erossureil; lo IflJtJ. The whole of these clips-- wore dipped in While's dip. The maker of this preparation doe,? not'claim Hint, the above Successful result* were ilirecl.lv and lolally attributable, to .the fact that White I ', dip was used on tin: flof'kV. What- he does say i-: ".That a'man who basilic liability'to put a hich-clas.- elipnn the .market does not- -leave anythinj to chance, .and .when he selects his dip he. £oes for. t.lie very lies.t that, can be. procured." ]'ui-;h.i;riiiforui-.itioii about-.this successful .preparation, .can be .obtained direct, from the- manufacturer, ."W-illiain .White* Otaoie, H,8.. or his Psente.-A'drt,

NEWS AND NOTES.

WELLINGTON WOOL SALES. Date Catalogue of .sale, clones. Thursday -Jan.- 11. — ■ . Tuesdav, Feb'. 13. Veil. 5. . "Tuesday, March 3. March 1. BUSH DISTRICTS SHOW! "Attention-is'drawn.'in another column lo .the -twentieth annual show of the Hush-'Districts A., and IV Association, which is to-he held a! Woodville on Jan■jiary "1. This year;the priV.es 'have been increased ainl. there.is expected to be keen competition, in all events. ; Entries close •on January lli. , ■ -.' : • FEILDING SHOW. In. another fortnight'entries for tho Feildirig. A. and P'. Show,' which is to' takeplaco on February Hand 7, will clo;c, and' those-desirous of competing may howobtain a schedule, which can be .'obtained direct from the secretary. A-large amount of-prize money is. to lie competed for, and all'classes.of stock arc catered for. Tho show:- is -growing,-, in. popularity., and breeders liow recognise.-thai the competition is a* -. keen at Fcilding . as at any other show.', . '.- ."'-'•'■-'' : ' ' ' THE SEASON IN RANGITIKEI. • EXTRAORDINARY WEATHER. ' "\Vc"havje had an extraordinary season in the Ma rton district .this spring," writes oii'f", travelling, co-respondent. "Like most other .parts- of. the! Dominion, wo have -hail until .quite recently an-.,uninterrupted c6ur.-o. of hejivy.winds... -At., times the weather, has been bitterly, cold; in fn'ety as-an .'evidence, of'.thp un-«asouable weather, snow...fell ,on the Iluuiiino' Ranges last' iwek', and Enapehu'is now,' at the end of the year, carrying a heuv.y_-ma.nMe. of-s.ribw. •uioi-e-like-t he-middle of-winter than inid-suninnr. As many.farmers predicted, we. have''.had .'.to pay a .heavy price. for the fine warm Septenibei- -weather. It lias been from many points of view a disappointing spring. Grass sto>:d still for weeks; in- fact, it went back, Ftock feeding-it off quicker 'tha.n-.il grew. The weather' being ?o' boisterous arid' the soil so'cold.and sodden,.farm crops of all kinds made little, progress. What, grass there, was .had 'littb fattening' properly, which is now seen by the condition in ,which many sheep are eomiiig out of the .wool. Shearing has bee:i along-and lingering operation this season. One farmer told me' it had taken; nine weeks to put. two thousand sheep through, and-he -almost despaired of getting the lambs shorn.' On all sides Hocks have only been partly shorn. Those win Jinvo.cut put consider themselves lucky, and it .has generally been wher? there has been good nightpen accommodation, as in numbers of-in-s-lanees-it-.has only'been the sheep in night pens which have- been shorn. Mangels .have been, disappointing, two sowings'having beer, general, .and even the second is on many; farms very indifferent. The. 'grain"crops "ore causing a good deal of uneasiness among the agricultural farmers. Onthowhole, they .have, been mpst 'promising,■ -the-.season in . Many, .respects being- much 'ftv their favour, ■except that, the-heavy wind.*..caused .a.good deal .of shedding, in the. earlier, oats..

..' .'•■'■. "MaViy Crops Laid." • ' I '.HaVveif commenced a.-couple' of weeks • ago* and so far:has been disastrous; that iwhich has been instook will bo of liltle, if any,- use, -as it has rained nearly every. ,day. Many..-crops, are badly laid. Jn fact. I hear of-one farmer .who has said -ho does not intend cutting as the crop is so much 'laid that the.binder could- apt .deal with- it. ■ The extraordinary heavy Kale we- had on Deeombeiv ti'. must- .have 'been heavily laden'with salt, as its effects .are plainly seen in Ihc appearance of all ; rroe,s aud shrubs exposed •ro its .blast. Peach, trc?s< ar« simply •shrivelled up; A largo grower, of tomatoes- tells, me he lias .never had such a season. The plants'are very little more forward thin when they were put out two months -ago', .and.-ho doubts whether he'will- have any fruit till-the. end'of February -. There is not .much wheat in liangitikcj this season, but .what there is seems to be Hie bright spot .iii a. disappointing year. Rape and turnips are doi n!; all right, the moi-t weather suiting -.thorn; well, and-so long as it ■continues there will be no blight on them like last year during -the..hot,-weather: Potatoes ale looking well, and so far as digging has gone,- results promise to be "satisfactory.- Strange to-say, the dreaded blight, has not .been much in evidence ■yet. though tin weather, especially the last couple of- .weeks, has been just what one would "have bring it. on. LIVE STOCK SALES. ADMNGTOX STOCK SAIjES. (By- Telegraph-Press Association.) •''-.- Chrlslchurch, January 3. At. Addinglon. tliero were moderate entries, of stock am! a. fair .attendance. Vat. cattle were easier, and there was a decided drop ill-the .price-of -fat lambs. Store sheep,-which .were mostly wethers, sold at 'an, advance on late rates,, and fnt sheep showed mile or no change. Vat, pis? also ,sold better, and-there-was an improved demand for store cattle. -The yarding'of store sheen was a. small one, and was made up chiefly of wethers, with a'few' line's of ewes and rape lambs. There was'an, imhroyed demand for. wethers,. and -price's-, advanced'. Hilly. Is. to Is. fid. per. head. The email offerings of ewes and-lambs sold about on a- par with , the previous-: sale's rates. There was a. good ■ inquiry-foi: rape, lambs and a- larger- supply could have hecu readily disposed of. Voiir-,and : six-tooth, wcthcra madn'.l^s.' 3d. to- 16s. Jld'.. t.wo'-'tnoth wethers lie.' to lis. 9d.,' and small wethers 9s. lid.': rape lambs, to 12s; 6d.; two-tooth owe?, 15s. fid. to 16s. 7.A.: six-and eight-tooths, lfe fid.; and two and! four-tooth .ewes, in the. wool. 17s. -9d....

i The ■'entry of fat lambs totalled 1604, or only half of the supply a. fortnight ape. A considerable proportion of- the lambs .were unfinished.-and as there was litti? bueiuess.donc-frtr'.cxpoi-t. there was-a.de-cided drop in. prices,. aSid a number of-.the liebtpr • Jots wire ■ pun-based by, graziers. •The decline'in iva.lues was equal t0,15:.6d. to.3s. per. head,.the-range-beinir 12s. 6d. to 15f,- 10d..' and-,«t ,fcw .extra-ue.ivy• 18s; The .hiilk of.' the 'sales' were made'-, at 13s. M. to 14?. .6(1. ..-. ..'• • . .." ; ,- ■ ~

. There was a moderate yardinc of fat. sheep. ' about., two-thirds of' which were ; wethers.' There'was .a pood demand on .'tho'.'part of: butchers, and-wethers friaiiiluined late rates,.whilst lints sold rather better. . There ■ was no business done 'for export. Prime wethers, made 17s. 6d.to 255.. 3d.; > lighter. 12s. 2d. to 175.; prime ewes-,-los. 6d. ; to 18s. 6d.;'extra, to 20s. 6d.; others, 5-i. lid. to 155. ; n,erino wethers, Us. Id. to 14s. 6d. ..: ■. There were 241. head of fat cattle penned, includiuc a sodtl '.proportion of Xorth I--Jand. cattle.-. The quality, was genrrnllr pood, .but the demand was slack, and a •dragging sale .resulted in values beinc down about'-ls.'per 1001b.,-the ranee bein" '245. to-275. per. 1001b. Steers made 17<.-. 6d. to £13; heifers, fft 17s. 6d. to £95='and cows. £5 is. to £10 10s. Teal calves made. 4s. (id. to 635., according to si?c and condition, there ■ -being a. large entry A,medium entry of store cattle' or moderate ouality met with an improved demand. Piftcni to eightcen-months stores made 50s. t<> ,545. .6'd.: ,two-year steers-£3 - 19ts. 6d.: two-and-a-lmlf-yenr steers £5 65.: . three-year '.steers. ,S6 2s. 6d. and- £6 i>. 6d.: three-year: heifers. £5: and dri-i.-ows, 375.. 6d. and '£3-17s. 6il, Dairv coil's made £3 10s. Id £5 ss'., and extra'to £10 2s. ;6d. '.-....

A. .-moll entry nf-int piss came forward, and pneos. especially for porkers, sho\vd .•hi lniproicjiiejit... Choppers made 50-. to 845.: larse .bhconoi's. 60s.' to- 73-.-. rintl smaller;-50s. to 575.-6(1., fniial to 5M iif-r 'Jfj.:- In'rjre porkers, <!?-:' 6(1. to fls. ' 6d ■ snyiller. 30s. to 40.-.. rnlial'to 6d. peril).' A.mmill entry (if store pir.s, met with an easier, demand.. larger Forts. uiakinc 26= ..to. 295. ,6(l.:.'medium. .22?. to 255.:, and Meaner.-:, which sold more readily, 10s. to 17s.

Messrs. Abraham' and, Williams I.ld report, on thqir .lohnsunrilln pale, held 'yesterday, as follows:—A good ' yardintr' of .prime 'bullocks:<uld sheep came forward and sold well at the-following pric"s — I'rime heavy bullocks, £9.105. to £3 'iji • lichtcr. £9 to £9 ss.'; linhl.. £B to "£8 12s! bil.:.- vcalers. 21s. to 265.; prime wether15k. 9d. to 16s;; licht, lis. M. to .]',?.: "on'ri ewes, 12s. 4d. to 12s. 5d.: medium ewes. 12' ■ plain owes. .10?.- Bd. to 11;. : prime lamb', los. to Ms.; zood lamb, 12.-. to' I 2« Ril • plain, 10s. • -.-"'"' "

. .(.'.hick-rearin- is not only profitable, but. n ,pleasure., when you Iced "A .and' P.' 1 Chiok Itaiser. f; is a complete. ;ind pra'perh-blended. food lor Vfiuii-j. Oliieb. .Obtainable- from all storekeepers.—Adrt! ' Factory managers arc invited-"to chop a post-card for , particulars 1 if.cheese van and hoop.-,- th" best made, \ n-torv brnnd to Albert J. Tarton, Carterton." Do it now,*.

j COMMERCIAL ITEMS,

• UMI-TJllJl COMPANY LAW. At the lute Imperial Conference ;i proposal was made mi the motion of the .\>w /.calann delegate and supported by the Commonwealth, that the law relating to companies should he rmdc unifortn throujrhout the Kmpirc. The Imperial Government welcomed (he proposal. The Hoard of Trade have sim.-c romp-led and issued a useful commentary on thevarious enactments in regard In companies now prevailing in fireat Britain and the more important colonics. In Great Hritain we had until .recently some 17 statu;** dealin;: with this branch or the law. hut now. happily, the.se are all consolidated in the one Act of 1908. New Zealand is nearly a; happy in this respect, as she has only two statutes on companies, and India follows close with three Acts. .South Africa is about as bad as Knglnml was before 1958. a.-, she po s sessc:i 16 Ants: Australia leaps ahead .with 43. but Canada easily lo:ii~ with 67. For their own convenience some of these' Dominion? might, well codify and Consolidate/their mnn.v statutes relating to companies in one comprehensive Act. but the principal, point is. that, whether Ihey prcfer to embody their law in one statute or in a multifarious -collection of enactments, the law on companies should be the same throtishntit the Empire. In thi« connection it is pleasant to find that the Australian and New Zealand provisions are very much like those of Great Hritain. In 1910 there was passed the. Victorian (Consididationi Aet. which, like the recent enactment in the Transvaal, is based on and. in far I. adopts the law of the Imperial Consolidation Act. New South- Vi'ales is far behind the times. British Columbia, has seen the wisdom of consolidating her many Acts, into one. and ingoing so has used the English.-- Aet as the model. Referrinp; to these local consolidations, the Board of Trade .points out that the-adop-tion of tho actual wordinz throughout of the British statute and the avoiding of anything in the nature of. trifling deviations is of great importnnce. .The Board notes'with sodefa<:tion-.tha.t, the importance of the subject, is so generally realised, and believes there is good reason to hope that progress will be more rapid in the. near future.

WARRANTY BY A CORPORATION. An interesting ease on the question of whether a corporation .can give -a warranty va.3 recently decided in England. A milkman was delivering milk to his customers in Batlcrse.n. One of the customers was an agont for an inspector of food and drugs, and he purchased a sample of the milk. Upon analysis the milk was ehown to contain 7i per cent, of added water, and it was of the poorest Quality as to its other ingredients. The milkman was summoned to appear before the magistrates, and there he..disclosed his defence in the manner allowed by statute. The milkman t-aid: "I sold this milk relying on. the warranty I.got with it from the firm who supplied me.".. The milkman was discharged.. The wholesale firm were then proceeded against oh the ground that the warranty thev had supplied .was. false,, and that their ser-vants-who supplied the milk had no reason to believe that the warranty was true.- The-defence of the milk arm (the ■respondents), is-of interest.- It was held on their behalf that, a corporation could not commit the 'alleged -offence, because it could not be capable of mens rea: in plain English..' a. corporation cannot have a. guilty mind. The magistrates dismissed the case on the ground that a corporation has no mind. The Lord Chief Justice, on appeal, held that the magistrates were .wrong in dismissing the. case. There was no rca.son why a, corpbration could, not give a warranty, and .that its agents, through whom it acted, could believe what •was-stated in the warranty. The statutes dealing with food and drugs ought- to be construed, a." far as possible, to protect purchascre. The appeal against the corporation must bo allowed.

WORLD'S GOLD PRODUCTION. One' cause 'of the general- rise in'prices since 1895-6, says the "Economist," is undoubtedly the enormous increase in the production of gold. The followinr; schedule, compiled by a correspondent; suni•morises' the average annual production of gold during the > last five - decades bv fiveyear periods:--. ■ '...- Years. . Fine Ounces. 1856-1860 .-.;. 32,?31.CC0 1361-1865 .29.747.0C0 ' ,' 1865-1870 .:...;; 31.3511.K0 ■ 187M875 ...,; ;..-... 27.935.C00 18T6-18SO -..-. 27.716.CM 1681-1885 ..„;,.... -.-...,. 50.973.C00 1886-1890 ; ■27.3C6.000 1891-5895 39.410.CC0 189M9C0 : 62,233,000 1951-1905 75.732.0C0 1906-1910 1C5.701.C00 During' the last five years- the aiuiii.il yield of gold 'according to the best .available estimate*) for the first time excocded .■IPO.COO.OCO. fine ounces. A large .part .'of the Augmented output must he ascribed to the .discovery of the cyanide process. Early in the 'nineties .Mac-Arthur' and. the ■ Forests brought, the modern perfected.cvauidc process under.'the notice of! alL'interested' in mining enterprise. During the tiro d". rades' which have elapsed the aggregate output, has been 284.075.C00. That, the spread of .the cyanide process is largely responsible is-.proved .by the fact'that during tins period (with one notable except ion) very little new ground has. been discovered or opened out. Klondike is the onlv new area, .which has recently been added lo those from which .the main yield, of gold is. obtained.. It. has been pointed out. that the "cream of the world's, nold fields have already been skimracd in previous years in California, Australia, South Africa," and India; it is mainly in the 'lowcr-grad-areas of the old Held* that the cvanids process has achieved the remarkable production shown in.the figures given above, the lowrgradc deposits were formerly passed oyer: now it is the innumerable, widely dispersed, low-grade reef' which have .sent the output to a level which h a record, and it is these le.w-grado accumulations, which now provide."the maiii portion of the world's supply of gold. The world, in default of the disroven- or other virgin areas, will. have to depend mainly .for its future rccmirements on .these, low-grade deposits, which the pyanido process has brought within the limits of profitable working. There in everv indication that the. increase will bo main.tamed for eome time. Taking the world's output or gold at. ICO, tho sources of supply arc as: follow:— , Pc From Russia, Mexico, India, South America, a.nd China, 15 The. .Transvaal " 55 Other British Dominions .; ; ';s United Slates "',",' 35 ; Total ....; ; ; ■ . The .predominant position of the Transvaal is clearly shown- by the fact that more than a third or (he whole output comes ..from, there, and the proportion ie 10 per ccnl. above the production of ' the T/nited States or of the. rest of the llrilish .Dominions. • CuslohiE duty collected at the port of Wellington yesterday- amounted to £2793 105. ,d. .-■ TRICE .OF FLOUR,. B7.TelerraDh-l'ress Associatinn-Cooyrighl ' ' lieceivcd Jan.! 4, 0.30 a.m. ' ■ ' .'"■ . .Sydney. ,Lan J. .. The price of new flour- has been fixed at £8 10s.; old remains.at.£B 15s. . LONDON. SHAKE QUOTATION'S. - ■>' Londbtii Januarv 2. Latest Stock Exchange ouotations are — Australian Mercantile. £99: ntr'.'of Svrtriey, £t00: Dalgety's shares. £5.155. and'£6 5*.; debentures,'£lol; Melbourne Uas,'£lol. SILVER.' London, January 2. Bar silver is Quoted at 25 3-IM. per ounce standard.