PASTORAL LANDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2821, 12 July 1916, Page 10

PASTORAL LANDS

WHAT IS BEING DONE. At the Conference of the Council of Agriculturo yesterday the following report from the Board of Agriculture was read :— "In Tegard to the improvement, of pastoral lands, the board had a long discussion in connection with this matter, and we had the advantage of one who had a large knowledge on this subjectMr. W. D. Hunt, one of the members— and who read an interesting paper in connection with it. A resolution was passed as follows:—(1) That the deterioration of these pastoral runs is largelycaused by the tenure under which they are held. (2) That if the tenure was freehold the owners of the land would very soon find out the best way to improve them, and in most instances would do so without an.y further action of the. Government. (3) Wo therefore recommend that the land should be offered for sale, (f) That the areas in which the land is offered should be such as, having consideration to a reasonable limitation of area, would enable the owner to have a sufficient number of sheep (having regard to the hazards natural to high country) to allow for losses, and yet ensure, an income from the investment of his capital. Further, that in cutting up tho area regard must be had to the height of the country, the class of land, and the situation." "A considerable amount of experimental work has been done in connection with this, matter, and some success achieved as far as regrassing the runs is concerned, although there has been no attempt to grant the freehold of the pastoral runs."

STUD SHEEP

QUESTIONS OF EXPOET. Questions affecting the export of stud sheep wore touched on nt the conference of tho Council, of Agriculture yesterday. The following report on the subject by the Board of Agriculture was read:— "This matter was discussed with Mr. Pope and Dr. Reakes. Mr. Pope pointed out that such a proposal to prohibit the export of inferior sheep would require j legislation, and that beintr the case-we asked the New Zealand Shoep Breeders' Association, of Christc'hurch, if they would suggest any means by which this could be successfully done. The matter was further considered at a later meeting, when we hod the advantage of Mr. •Tohu D. Ritchic's views, the late Secretary of Agriculture, on the matter, but seeing there were many difficulties in the way of doing anything, that wliile members agreed that some check was necessary, but as neither, the Board nor the Department had the statutory power to prevent the ■ export of inferior sheep, it )i;ould be better for the associations themselves to take action to remedy the trouble. It ■ was resolved:—That the Board of Agriculture, perfectly 'approves of any effort made to keep up th'j quality of ] the stud rains exported, but as there -is no -legislation empowering the ■Department ; to prevent the shipping of inferior sheep, it is hoped that the Breeders' Association will deal with tiie matter themselves on similar lines to those adopted by the Ro'tnney Marsh Association.. "Sir-; George Clifford, however, at 'a meeting of the New Zealand .Sheep Breeders' Association,. stated that he tlmught the Board had 'missed the point' The Board, if it has done so, would be only too glad to be put on the right path to Temedy what is obviously a somewhat, serious' matter, and we should be glad to" have the opinion of the council .so that wo, may make a re : 'commendation- to Government on, the subject." • | Among the remits passed by the Conference \ras the following, from Cantorbury:—"That it be a recommenda.'ion to the Breed Associations or the Stud Book authorities of New Zealand that they should make it publicly known in countries where New Zealand stock is sold, that no stock shonld be recognised as studs unless accompanied by a certificate from the Breed Association'or Stud Book authorities for animals registered' therewith."

LIVE STOCK SALES

Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd. (late W..and G. Turnbull and Co., Ltd.), roport having held a vcr.v satisfactory clearing siilo on Monday, when they Eold, on aocount'Sir. Robert J. Dagg, the whole of hiß cattle, horses, and implements, and a few sheep. Competition was keen throughout the sale. The following ore a few of the' prices:—Shecip: 4-tootli fat wethers,- 555. 2d.; medium b.l". hoggets, 16s. Id.; low-condition ewes, 16s. 3d.; Romney and Shropshire rams, 17s. 6d. Cattle Dairy heifore, d-uc factory dalep, £7; cows in milk, and duo Dcceiuber, £5 to £5 12s. 6d. ; empty 2-year liciTcrs, £4 12s. 6(1.; calves, 37a.; Jersey bull. £3 12s. 6d. Horses: Bay gelding Garry, 9 years, £35; bay gelding Mac, 7 years, £30; bay gelding Prince, 7 years, £35; bay gelding Jock, 4 years, £32 195.; bay mare Kate, 9 years, £19 10s.; bay mare Minnie, aged, £20 10s.; hacks and harness mares and geldings, £8 to £12 10s. ? •

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Customs duty collected at tlie port of Wellington yesterday Amounted to £4700 165. ■ WHOLESALE PRODUOE PRICES. Messrs. Lucry and Co.. Ltd., Alien Rtreot, report wholesalo prices as follow Fowls' wheat, prime, ss. id. bushel; fowls' wheat, medium, ss. 2d. bushel; fowls' barley, 4s. 3d. bushel; Cape barley, 4s. 9d. buahel; partridge peas, 6s. 6d.; mai'ze feed, ss. 3d.; oiiaff, oatsboaf, £6 ss. ton; oat straw, £4 ss. ton; hay, clover, £6 ss. ton; Hour, in sack, £13 15s. ton; oatmeal. £13 10s. toil; bran, £8 15s. to £9 ton;'potatoes, seed, Northorn Star, £6 15s. ton; Up-to-date, £7; Gamekeepers, £0 155.; bacon (all best factory), sides, Is. lb.; rolls, Is. Id. lb.; hams. Is. Id. lb.; shoulders, 10d. lb.; nhceso (factory), me<lium, 9*d. to lOd. lb.; loaf, lCd.; linseed meal, 100's, £11 10s.; 50's, £2; 20's, £12 10s.; linseed nuts, 13s. owl.; linseed ground cake. 13s. cut.;, rice pollard.- £6 lEb. ton; onions, brown Spanish, £7 10s. ton; potatoes, whitc-skinnod table. £8 10s. per ton.

SOUTHERN MARKETS.' By 'J'elegrnph—l'ress A<si>':inli..'n. Chrlstchurch, July It. Royond ft few sales that are taking place between merchants and millers there i 3 little doing in wheat. A fow falcs of TiiKan have taken place at 4s. sd. and , 4s. 6d. at country stations, and a mixed lino equal to 4s. 10Jd. There is a.'good demand, for fowl wheat, and the price has hardened lately by sd. per bushel. The wheat market generally is very Arm-. The oats market is also firm, but very quiet.- There are not many potatoes offering, and although North Idand demands are not very active, any lots oomilig forward from growers aro readily saleable at £6 10s. at oountry stations.