MANAWATU MATTERS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 54, 26 November 1921, Page 12

MANAWATU MATTERS

CROPS, STOCK AND WOOL A GENERAL REVIEW 4 From Our Own Correspondent. Palmerston North, November 25. Although the whole of this and tho turrounding districts have been treated to a.great deal of rain during tho past week, the only inconvenience caused by it has been the delaying of shearing operations. Under present circumstances the effects are not so serious as they might have been in other years, as with the delay in the wool sales growers are not so anxious to get the wool off as they would have been had circumstances been normey However, it must lie remembered l\it more especially in the larger sheds, .\'.ges are going on all tho time for shed hands, and all sheareis have to be kept, and with the present prices for stores tho delay is rather serious. .. So far as tho crops are concerned, all cereals'and roots are looking extremely well and on some of the lighter lands the ’moisture was welcome, as many ot the crops of oats were showing signs of coming into ear prematurely. However, the extra moisture has given tho oats a very good chance of filling out, and will substantially strengthen the straw for chaffing. Advantage is being taken of the suitability of the weather to put in further crops of rape and turnips, and on all hands farmers are seen engaged in this occupation. This is especially noticeable on the low downs between Paekakariki and Palmerston North, and there should be an abundance of sheep feed for the coming winter. The plethora of feed is causing the supply of milk to keep up. so that it is certain a t he output of butter and cheese from the factories this season will be very larg , which should in some measure make up for the low prices which it is feared will rule for some time at least. 1 FROZEN MEAT TRADE. There is absolutely no improvement to record in the demand for sheep or cattle fo- freezing. Most of the factories in the North Island have eithey opened their works or will do so during the coming week, but with .uncertainty as to prices, nether rtibling nor Longburn are able to aay whe.n th. will commence operations for the season. No prices have yet been announced. A letter received to-day by a local firm from their Melbourne agents shows that matters are no better in Aust^ la ; far as lambs are concerned, the prices offered are 2ld. per lb. on he hooks, which works out at very little ovei 6s. ,er head. The result is that growers here are now shearing th nr lambs tor the wool, and are holding the ambs over until next season. In the Noilh Isiaiia, -TOwever, growers are not likely to adopt this expedient. Jhey have toi years relied on their fat lambs to help to maintain their position, and' to ho d them over till nekt season would be only courting disaster, as by that time they would have grown into heavy carcasK ®® of mutton, which will probably be not a saleable proposition white fromi present appearances to shear them " oul d not lie a payable proposition with so muefi wool offering. Last years wethers and ewes, which are now becoming heavy weights, are practically unsaleable at tho present time, and many of these may have to be carried over without an improvement takes place in the Home markels‘ LOCAL MEAT PRICES.

So far as prices for meat in the local market are concerned retailers announce a drop of practically 2Jd. per lb. ini some lines, white in others it has eased to the extent of Id. per lb., and so far "= be gathered the prices compare 1... -r--ablv with those now charged in other centres, more especially in the larger towns. AMERICAN INQUIRIES FOR BUTTER. It is fairly generally known that during last, season a good deal of New Zea(and butter was mokl to American buyers, and that they were satisfied with the results is proved tLv the tact that offeis have just 'been received by a factory in this town for its whole output for December and' January, the offer comii« through a big indent house in the Dominion. 'lre offer, which is Is. Bid. i.0.b., was, however, not accepted, | h ? ire . ct t of tho concern approached being ot the opinion that for tho output for those two months they can net Is. 9d. per the financial outlook. Althougn business passing is of only a hand-KHnoulh description, at the annual meeting of shareholders ot Messrs. Abiaham and Williams held tins week the directors were abte to announce that. y care Yul management they had been able “ pay a dividend' of 6 per cent for the K unffer the financial stringonev* prevailing must have been a pleasant surprise to shareholders Mr. John kaisiMte, after cdngraculatmg the direc tors on the balance-sheet, said that ie had not expected any dividend this yeai. tn deatTn" with the financial position he nointril out that tliere were fifty mil?ion woifie less in the world to help to use our meat anti produce, and whenever the supply ex^e V h ?j£ m o a f n th >*conVirorS ctes\ who, M-ien Wo Umes came, had to make one uTv* of clofhes go as tar as two. Me S-liat t’e same ffie peninsular War. ' Vhen time came, insleatf of accepting u little e® So hold off in the hope of getting alittle more, and consequently lost money Ho thought that if strict economy were practised things would come dowm, and with careful management they might hope for an even better result next ’’in’three times it is refreshing to hear nn optimistic note struck, but at the same time the other side of the picture must not ba ignored, and from Um fact that up to the present e even bankruptcies of farmers ' have taken place in this district, it is evident that ffTTeast some of the men on tlie land are up against it. The statements at most of the meetings of c redl^> re disclosed the fact that when the boom m tend was at its height less than a couple of yeare ago, several of three men were in good, sound financial positions, b-t they were anxious to do even better, attracted by the lure of the land agents, they sold their properties at high prices, leaving the greater portion of the money on mortgage, and at cnce proceeded to acquire larger places on which they only paid small deposits, truttiug to the money to come in from the ptecre they had sold to pay for the newly-acquit properties Now however that the boom has burst, the ongina’l properties have fallen back on their hands, white they have made heavy losses through the fall in stock and they find themselves at the e}'d ?f their tether, and have 'had to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court. PALMERSTON NORTH’S POST OFFICE. For some time past it has been felt that, tho growing importance of this town has justified our Post to the standard of a chief office. A the meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce a resolution was passed Mr J A. Nash, the member for the district, to again bring Che matter under the notice of the Postmaster-General with a view to having the status raised It was pointed out that Hamilton, with a much smaller business, had already had that honour conferred on it.

SEA TRADE WITH FOXTON. For some considerable time loxtou, which should bo H 1 " 0 main port tfoi Palmerston North and district, has been without a steamer, but arrangements have now been made by which the steamer Kennedy will trade direct between Wellington and Foxton, and also call at Lyttelton. This will give direct communication with the .South Island, and allow of agricultural produce from there coming direct, here without having to be shipped to Wellington and then raild to various parts of the Manawatu. It will also avoid the sending by train or motor the largo quantities of petrol which are now sent from Vl ellington by this expensive method, and which are used by dairy farmers for driving milking machines and by others for commercial and private motors. LIVE STOCK TRADE. There has been very little doing in the local markets, and the only thing saleable in cattle are dairy hrifeiu and cows just coming to profit, there is absolutely no demand for stores ot any kind, white the only inquiry ter fat cattle is for butchers’ purposes. Ihe same remarks apply to sheep. This may be gathered from the fact that a line of two-tooth hoggets brought 10s. 6d in the wool. After being shorn they were offered at the Dannevirke saleyards, when the highest bid for them was' 7s. 6d., and the carcasses would have been capable of turning the scale at from 601 b. to 701 b. ach. This is only one of many eases which could be quoted, and there are a large huihlxt 0 growers who hold sheep of this description, and are a.t their wits end to know what to do with them.