HORSE FEED SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 163, 30 March 1918, Page 10

HORSE FEED SHORTAGE

I SUPPLIES FROM SOTJTH. There has bten- a serious shortage- of chaff in Auckland during the summer, and prices have . isen to an abnormal figure, this week's quotations ior chaff ranging from £11 to £12 a ton (says the "Herald"). Local merchants state that the high prices 'for chafE are due to'scarcity of supplies, tho usual shipments from the south not having come to hand. Quotations for chaff in the south range from €4 to £4 10s. a ton, and there is an ample supply available at the prices mentioned. On th« otner hand, notwithstanding the e'xhorbitant prices quoted in Auckland, very littio chaff is obtainable locally. Comparatively little chalf is produced in the Auckland district, and this season's, crop of oats is said to be lighter than usual. The reason assigned for tho striking difference in prices as between the northern and Fouthern centres is that shipping space cannot be found for chaff from tho south. I'Veight rates on general merchandise are higher than tlio&o on grain, while chaff, when space is available, is carried at a cheaper rate than heavy grain. There is said to bo a congestion of merchandise at all tno ports, and shipping space from the south is practically all utilised for the carriage of the commodities commanding the higher freights. The price of oats is also higher than usual, owing to shortness of .supply, and as chaff and oats constitute the staple horse feed, tho high cost of these commodities is a severe tax on horseowners. It is stated that in several instances country contractors who have to keep numbers of working horses engaged on road contracts, have- been obliged to reducetheir, plants to the minimum, and the progress of works in 'hand has been seriously retarded in consequence. Instancing tho difficulty of obtaining oats from the south, a local merchant said that ho knew of cases whore local dealers had bought parcels of oats in tho south early in the season, it ml owinjr to their inability to procure shipping space had boon compelled to soil the oats again in tho south. ■

After a lot of trouble in industrial negotiation, there will bo a limited killing season at tho big meat works erected by Vestcy Brothers at Port Darwin. It is expected that about 25,000 head will be killed, as against 50,000 originally planned. 1