HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MARKET REPORT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 60, 4 December 1917, Page 10

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MARKET REPORT

The Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce has received the following cablegram dated London, December 1, from the High Commissioner for Now Zealand. (Note'. —Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices on spot). Meat.—All descriptions of meat are in small supply, selling at maximum prices. New Zealand frozen meat, no supplies available. Argentine mutton and lamb is very scarce, l Ud.; Argentine chilled beef, hinds, llid.: fores, Old.

Butter.—Market remains as last reported. No official quotations, with the exception of very limited supply during this week of Paris and New Zealand, at maximum prices. Cheese.—Small supplies at Government prices.

Hemp.—Manila and New Zealand market quiet, small business doing at fixed prices. ' Wheat.—Market steady and a fair business doing. No. 2 Manitoba Northern and No. 2 Hard Winter, 745.; Australian, 775. Gd.

Oats.—Market quiet but firm. No. 2 White Clipped American, 595.

Complaint about the increase of railway freights on wheat after the farmers have been guaranteed ss. lOd. per bushel, f.0.b., is made by the "Farmers' Union Advocate." "Though wheat," says the journal,, "is directly exempted trom the 10 per cent, increase of railway rates, it is indirectly made to increase the railway revenue to an almost eqiial amount by the reduction in tho poundage allowed .to the ton. Wheat in the future instead of being twelve bags to the ton is to be 22401b. —equivalent to an increase of 7 per cent, at tho lowest estimate. This increase may j not represent a large amount per bushel; but in the aggregate it will amount to a substantial sum of money, which in view of the agreement made,' is certainly not a 'square deal' to the wheatjrowcr. It has probably been done without thought, and now that it has been pointed out, we hope the Minister of Agriculture will promptly bring the matter before Cabinet, and have wheat removed entirely from the amended railway tariff."

The.seriousness of the cattle disease known as "blackleg" was strongly omphasised by Mr. Sehvyn Mays, at the Auckland Police Court, when a farmer, -Tiesliq J. Hancock, of Pukekohc, was charged with having, on August 14, exposed for sale, in.'a blackleg-infected area, a calf not inoculated against the disease. Mr. Mays said the prosecution ivas the first of a series about to bo brought before the Colirt. Five informations, affecting two hundred, head.of, cattle, had already been laid. Blackleg was ono of the most serious of the diseases peculiar to cattle,, and the whole object of the regulation enforcing inoculation ivas to prevent its spread. At ono time it had greatly affected the Taranaki district, but it had been effectually stamped out through settlers observing tho regulation. Tremendous mischief might ensue as tho result of transferring cattle from an infected area to n'n uninfected area. The Legislature had recognised tbis by providing for a penalty up to £200. Farmers had no excuse, as officers of the Stock Department inoculated cattle free of charge. A fine of £5 and costs was imposed.