FARMING & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2210, 24 July 1914, Page 10

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

THE FARMERS' UNION ; ; ANNUAL CONFERENCE THIRD DAY'S SESSION Tho annual confcrcnco of the. NewZealand Farmers' Union was continued yostorday. Mr. G. W. Loadley (vicepresident)' was in t-he chair. The .following resolutions wero passed: — 'Inoculation of Calves. —"That tho compulsory iriooulation of calves should bo onfbreed s in districts where ' blackleg',has .been known to exist."

; State Quarries. —"That the Government should be asked to consider .the question of establishing State quarries, shingle beds, scoria pits, etc., and linking them with brancli lines to the railway,'so that local bodies depending on the railway for their metal supply'may got it at first cost." , ' i Branding of Cull Cattle. —"That legislation should bs asked for providing that the Agricultural Department Slave d registered brand for the u«?, of anyone who desires to use it for tlie purpose' of branding 'cull' dairy cattle and. for; no other pmjiosc, and ' that theire b<s provision prohibiting the.offering for public or private saie cattle so branded as dairy stock, or without, proclaiming that the cattle are so branded:"-;; J ,v , ... • . - ; Spejtfiig;Dairy.iCows;—"That qualified instructors should bo appointed to instruct''.fanners/to. fit them to give instruction in "tho- speying of cull cows and, heifers."

Stallion Bill.—"That tho Government should be requested to reintroduce the Stallion Bill on the same line's as that drawn up last 6ession and shelved,by the Upper House." ' Sheep Dipping.—"That the attention of the Stock Department should be drawn to tho clause compelling owners to have all sheep dipped prior to tho first day of May of each year, with a view to having- the said clause carricd into effect."

Travelling Stock.—"That stock paddocks 6hould be reserved for all stock routes throughout Now Zealand by the Government wherever possible and advisable where, lands are being cut up." Other busifiess transacted is reported' under other headings. 1 The conference _ will resume at *10, o'clock this morning. •••••'• •

FARMERS AND THE RAILWAYS REQUESTS FOR IMPROVED v-FACILITIES, "There seems to be a great lack of sympathy between tlie Railway Department and the local bodies," said a delegate to, tho |Farmers'. Union .Conference yesterday, when railway matters wero under consideration. The conference passed the following resolutions:—. Carriage .of Lime.—"That the Government, be asked to convey agricultural lime from tho nearest available source of supply,,.upon .the railway aiiy distance free, in lieu of tho 100-mile limit of free railage, as at-present." ■ Carriage of Metal.—"That the Government. bo asked to grant facilities for the carriage on the 'railways of metal to local bodies, such as special trucks for metal carriage, and" a special train for metal carriage only:" ' Hiring, of Trucks.—"That . users of tracks on, the Government, railways be granted the fight'ofjiirihg by. the.-trii'ck and loading .some with all classes of goods or stock they may -require, -provided that no inflammable or explosive goods be Carried."

. Shortage of Trucks.—"That the matter of shortage of trucks on tho railways be again brought under tho notice of the Railway Department." Carriage, of Pigs.—"That the Government for health reasons provide hooks in -roadside trucks for the carriage of pigs to the city markets."

Burning of Grass.— I "That it be brought to the notice of the Government that the burning of rank grass along the railway line is-done at a time when thero is great risk of dam-, age to the adjoining pastures, and/that' this union considers sufficient caro is not exercised in burning the grass."

PIG-FARMING "VERY PROFITABLE" INDUSTRY. On tho subject of pig farming, Mr. J. G. Wilson said, in the course of his presdiential address to the New Zealand Fanners' Union Conference, that, somewhat, the industry was not looked upon with favour. However, it was a very profitable one. Mr. Wilson continued:—"All our pigs are by-products of our dairying industry. ' But as converters of grain into meat they are unequalled. l'ako for instance the Opotiki country. There they mow large""quantities of maize, which finds a market in Auckland. I believe if they converted the maize into meat on the farm it would pay much better. They .do this with cattle in the 'United States; but - here pork and bacon are selling so well that this form of consumption of cereals would probably pay much better than ..beef. There woujd be less expense, for the cobs would not reguire shelling.' The pork could bo sold as fresh meat or turned into bacon which alwaj's sells well. A fanner in Victoria, lately found his .barley was discoloured: ,and worth only. Is. 6d. a bushel.He. determined to convert in : into meat. He' bought pigs at an average of about .£2—fattened them 'on crushed barley, made'a-profit of XI a. head; ;after all expenses were paid; in other-words, he, sold his bafley.: at 3s. -dd.,: instead .of 25., which was the prevailing, price, although he did not consider'- hecould have got more than Is, 6d.-for his. Such a result here, in our -climate," could not be ob-tained-without the expenditure of some capital in the way ol' buildings, for the feeding of pigs in an enclosure of mud, as is too often.-, seen .on -; dairy farms, is not conducive to. profit, but I am certain there is a large and- profitable business in pig farming if it were extended,"

Wo think that ono of the crowning benefits, of tho home-separated cream system is tho wai'mi Vholesome skim milk, ready for immediate uso for stock-feeding and other purposes.- ■-We. have; seen figures of some of'our best and foremost dairymen, which provo . that , their own skim milk, used under the best'conditions, is worth equal to threepence, per. lb. of butter-fat. They'hate-railed'us their cream and pot proper weight, test, and price for it. We want yours. Bail to St. John's Station, c.o. AVanganui- Fresh Food and lice Co.— Advt.

Ever considered the advisability of in-stalling-a? water-wheel on your property? There's a lot' of power running to waste in that swiffr stream—enough to drive all your farm machinery. This is a. .good sound proposition—means money to you. Write for: particulars. A. J. Parton, Sheet*Metnl and Plumbing Works, Carterton—Advt.

Dalgety and Co., Ltd.. Itasterton, report having. held "their usual woc-ltly sale at Sohvay on,„ Wednesday last. There was the usual- attendance, and. a fair yarding of "stock, which met with keen competition, realising the following prices:—Fat wethers. 25n.; fat owes. 19,=., 20s„ to 235.; fat cows. £7 17s. to £8.

On one of.the American:railways, in a sleeping-car,- • one- niaht after everybody had turned in. and the lights were low, a loud.voicc called from one of the berths: "Porter, have you got a corkscrew?" The porter came hurrying up. "Boss," ■he said, in a scandalised tone, "we don't allow no drinking in tho berths; it's against the rules. "Oh, it ain't that, porter." 'tho voice answered, "I just, want lo dig out a pillow that's sort of -worked into my ear."

NEWS AND NOTES.

COMMERCIAL ITEMS INVESTMENT SHAKES. Tho transactions in investment, shores recorded yesterday were Ciiristchuveh . Gas (£5) ot. £7 65., and Standard Insurance at 375. 3d. Tile quotations were as follow :— . Buyers. Sellers. £ a. d. £ p. d Bank of N.Z. (£3 6s. Bd.) - 10 19 0 Bank of N.Z. (£6 13s. 4d.) — 17 1 0 National Bank — 5 14 6 National Mortgago 4 5 0 — Well. Investment — / 2 2-6 Wellington Gas (£10) 16 10 0 —' Wellington Gaa (pref.) ... 1 0 0 — Gear Meat (£1) — 317 6 Well. Woollen (ord.) — 4 B 0 Well. Woollen (pref.) ...... 3 2 6 — laupiTi Coal 116 12 0 Westport CoaJ 110 3 — Weetport-Stockton 0 2 9 — Leyland-O'Brien — 13 0 Donagliy Hope and Twine — 14 6 Manning and Co. 3 18 6 4 0 0 Ward and Co 5 1 0 5 2 0 W.F.O.A. (203.) ' — 15 9 Customs duty collected at the Port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £3318 ss. lid. AOSTKALIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. By Telegraph—l'reos Association—Copyright (Rec. July 23, 9.20 p.m.) _ Sydney, July 23. Wheat, 3s. lOld. to 3s. Ud.; flour, £B to £8 la. 6d.; oats, Algerian feeding. 2s. sd'. to 2s. 6d.; milling 2s. 6d. to 2s. 7d., Tasmanian 35.; barley, English 2s. 6d., Cape 2s. 6d., seed 2s. 10d.; maize, 3s. Bd. to 3s. 9d.; Java maize, 3s. fid.; bran, £5 55.; pollard, £5 155.; potatoes, Tasmanian £6 lOe.; onions. Victorian £8. New Zealand £5 10fl. 6d., picklers £2 15s. to £3; butter, selected 1225., seconds 100s. to 1045.; cheese, 9d.; bacon, BJd. Adelaldo, July 23. Wheat, 3a Bid. to 3s. 9d.; flour, £8 to £8 2s. 6d.; bran, Is. 2d.; pollard, le. 2}d„ Is. 3d. '

MELBOURNE HIDE SALES. Melbourne, July 23. Moderate cnpplies wore offered, tliere was a fair competition, but prices were easier. WHEAT. , . London, July &3. wheat.—The market is firm and tending in sellers' favour. The parcel ei Whakarua sold at 355. 6(1. : TALLOW SALES.' London, July 22. : At the tallow sales 2061 casks were offered and 1752 sold. Priocs were unchanged. ; LINSEED , OIL AND TURPENTINE. ■ London, July 22. i Linteed oil, £25 10a. Turpentine, 345. SILVER. . London, July 22. : Bar 'silver 1 is quoted at 24£ d. per ounce standard. : The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, lias received the • following cablegram from its Londonhouse, dated July 22 I "Tallow.—We quote present spot values for the following doecriptiajis: Good mutton, 31s. 3d. per cwt.; good beef, 325. 6d. per cwt.; mixed, 28s. td. per cwt. Wheat—We have sold anAustralian cargo at 355. 4d. e.i.f. There' is a fair ,demand owing to unfavourable crop reports from Russia. Tho outlook le uncertain." LONDON WOOL SALES . -.THE MARKET AT THE CLOSE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, July 22. The wool eales closed strong, prices for all sorts being .at the highest level of the series. VALUES REACH BOOM LEVEL. (Eec. July 23, 8.30 p.m.) London July 22 Of the quantity sold, 88,500 bales wero taken for Home consumption, 34.000 bales for tho Continent, 17,000 bales for the United States, and 7000 bales were held over. : r >• • ~ ■ Competition increased throughout the sales, and values of all eorts reached the level of tho boom period of 1899. . Compared with tho closing rates of tho May eeries, merino advanced 5 to 7J per cent., fancy prices being paid by those, who were obliged to buy. Crossbreds enjoyed a remarkable widening of competition; flno and medium Rew Zealand advanced a halfpenny to a paany per lb.; coarse, par to 5 per cent, advance; scoureds, 5 per ccnt.j slipes were at par; medium coarse crossbreds, par to a halfpenny decline; merino lambs wero unchanged; crossbreds opened .at a halfpenny to a penny doclinc, but .superior recovered May values. Faulty did not show any improvement on the opening prices.

The following wero the prices realised for the fioecc portions of the New Zealand clips named:—Piripiri, top prico 12Jd„ average price 11 3-Bd.; Nikau. top 12d., average. 11 l-Bd.; Wakarua, top 12d„ average Ud.; Moute, top lid., average Iff 5-td.

PRIVATE CABLE ADVICES. Tho Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce has received the following cablegram from the High Commissioner for Sew Zealand, dated London, July 22, in regard to the closing of tho fourth seriea of colonial wool ' sales:— ''Wool Ssles—The wool sales have closed. There Is a strong demand for all classes, and trade is good. The supply falls short of the demand. Prospects are • favourable for a continuance of present prices. American purchases approximately estimated at 17,000 bales; 6-"CO balee of New Zealand wool are held over. Estimated values: Superior merinos. Is. Zld. to Is. 4d.; medium, UW. to Is. 2d.; inferior, 9d. to lid.; fine-cross-breds, all grades, Is. 3d.' to is. 5d.; medium crossbreds, Is. to le. 2;d.; coarse crossbreds, lOd. to Is. Id."

Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., have received the Ifollowing cabled advice from their London office, under date July 22:— "Wool sales have closed active, with brisk competition, as compared with last sales' closing rates. Prices for scoured merino wools 5 per cent, higher; except for short faulty wools ere par to 5 per. cent, lower; greasy merino combing, 5 per cent, to 71 per cent." higher; greasy merino wools or otlier. descriptions, 5 per cent, higher; ereasy fine crossbred wools, 5 per cent, to 71 per cent, higher.; greasy medium crossbred wools par to 5 per cent, higher; greasy, coarse crossbred wools unchanged, except greasy shabby crossbred wools, par to 5 per cent, lower: scoured fine crossbred wools, 5 per cent, higher; scoured medium and coarse crossbred wools, 5 per cent, lower; sliped. fine crossbred wools, par' to 6 per cent, higher;, medium sliped coarse crosobred wools, .5 per cent, lower; greasy good lambs' wool unchanged; greasy inferior lambs' wool. 5 per cent, lower. The total net quantity available amounted to 146.000 boles, which, were disnoseil of as follows:—Sold to America, 17.000 bales; sold for Home' consumntion, 87.000 bales; sold to the Continent, -34,000 bales; carried forward, £000 bales. ■

The Bank of New Zealand has received the following cable mlvice from its London office, dated July 2?.:—"The sales 'iavo closed firm for all kinds of wool. There is active demand by 'all branches of the trade. Total quontity held over is 8000 hales, of which 700C0 /ire New Zealand. Current priccs for. North .Island farmers' lots in average condition:—Co-t<£ crossbreds. 36-40's ouality; 1!d. to !'»d. per lh.j medium crossbreds. '4-411's, 113 d. to lSld.; fine crossbreds. 6"'e. 13id. to 14* d. Current mines for South Island farmers' ,Ws (Canterbury style) in avcratre condition:—lnferior merino, 50-54'6 quality (common), 12d. t"< 121 d.: cimerinr merino. 60-64 V (super), to -IP'd.; half or quarter-bred 50's, 14M. to ISM.

Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co.. Ltd., have this day received the following cablegram, dated July 22, from their London friends. Messrs. Sandersou, Murray and Co.:—"London Wool Sales.—Sales have closed Arm, 800 bales held over. The market for merino and lino crossbred veiyv firm. AH other descriptions of wool, • market shows no material change."

The New Zealand Loan" and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., has Tcceivcd the following cablegram ffom its London house, dated July 22:—"Wool Sales—One hundred and thirty-eight thousand bales of wool were sold at the eales, of which 31,000 bales were taken- for the Continent and 17.0C0 for America; 8000 bales were held over. The sales closad with good competition. The market quotations are unchanged."

Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., have received tho following cable from their agent 6 under dato July 22:—"The sales have closed with' tho active competition well maintained and the Americans fit-ill buying freely. Tho closo of the mar-ket-was firm, and prospects for a continuance arc good. As compared with clos-ing-rates of last series, fine crossbred and merino have advanced 5 per cent., medium crossbred is at present at. from par to 5 per cent, higher, whilst coarse crossbred is unchanged, but steady."

Buy a Sewing Machino for its reputation's sake—not for' its good appearance. In,, the "Werthieni" you secure both. "I'is a handsome niece of furniture. whilst -its. speed, efficiency, and reliability confirm ■ its high reputation. Call for demonstration or write! Oscar Howett and, Co., 56 Cuba Street, "Wellington, Sole Agents. Local Agents in your town,—Advt,