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Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1933, Page 8

DEPT OF AGRICULTURE PEPORT OF YEAR’S WORKING WELLINGTON, October 24. In a report of the Department or Agriculture’s work for the year 193233, ending on March 31 last, the D.rec-tor-General, Dr C. J. Reakes, gives a comprehensive, and interesting survey of general operations. Principal among the points discussed are those concerning the possibility of developing beef production on .land of dairying quality, in support of, the newlydeveloped chilled beef trade, and the drastic reduction in the figures of artificial fertilisers used. The report states:— The production season 1932-33 has in every respect been favourable to .primary producers. Climatic conditions have on the whole been conducive to the growth of both arable crops and pastures, and are reflected in heavy peraere yields of grain and an extensive advance in butter-fat output. ' /The percentage of the total estimated butter-fat production exported has varied slightly year ,by year, but on the whole exhibits a definite upward trend, especially over the mst eight seasons, having risen in that time from 72 per cent, to 79 per cent., losses in separation for all butter-making being credited to local consumption.. Local consumption of dairy products, however, was well maintained , during this latter period, and that for :butter has actually risen by roughly 21b per a-pita per annum ' >'e t"e <i • p ?° began, the per capita consumption for 1931-32, based on the. total population as at December 31, 1932, working out slightly in excess of 371 b, which is the highest rate in the world for all countries having such data available. Had the mean population figure been used it would work out higher than 371 b. DAIRY AND SHEEP INDUSTRIES The total number of dairy cows in milk or dry as at .'am M-y «. approximately 1,839,000. The in_ creases recorded during the last three ; years are associated with the general , Lice level for farm products. Many sheep farmers have gradually built r up herds of varying sixes to argument tbei r cash income. It it to be expected, however, that a return to more normal price conditions for meat and wool, will be accompanied by a regressive, movement in this respect. A similar tr.end was experienced in the slump years of 1920-21, and was followed by a fouryear static period from 1923 onwards, j consequent upon sheep farmers giving up milking for'factory supply. The estimated average production a cow for the 1932-33 season is in the vicinity of 2181 b butter-fat, or an advance of approximately 181 b more than that of 1931-32. ' The sheep industry continues to feel the full force of. .the price depression, although there are mdictions that wool, at least, is likely to be in better demand than for the last three seasons. Although the most noticeable advance in price have been in respect of fine wools, it is to be expebted that the movement will be reflected in the coarser.tynes representing ,th° nr I.'" portion of the Dominion’s clip. The most serious aspect of the financial stringency among sheep farmers is reflected in the induction of breeding ewes by more than 500,000 in 1932 This movement is typical* 1 of depressions, flock owners being forced into, realisation on-filature ktock and lambs in an. attempt to find liquid cash. If this trend can be permanently arrested rapidly, recovery in sheep number will be expedited. For some years past there has been a feeling among the sheep farmers and breeders of the Dominion that the quality of our wool is not all; that can be desired. A realisation that the suitability of the sire is the true basis of auy improvement in wool has led to an agitation culminating in the foundation of a committee to formulate plans and proposals calculated to bring about the desired improvement. The outcome of tills movement is as yet uncertain, but must be watched with interest by those concerned for the future of the industry. ADVANCE FOR BEEF PRODUCTION. The position of beef production in the Dominion’s farming programme has attracted some attention consequent upon the successful trial shipments of chilled b«ef made during the year. The increase in breeding-cows of beef type during recent years has naturally led to an advance in killings, as reflected in the season slaughtering .of 354,271 cattle, icompai’ed with 269,916' divring the season ending July, 1932. Should a c<hil]ed-beef trade be developed, however, it is questionable to what extent -our present stock can be considered suitable. Undoubtedly greater attention will need to be paid to beef type, and i,n this connection breedingbulls .must receive special consideration. Any extensive development of export of chilled beef of a type other than that represented by our present supply must of necessity take some years to (build up. In anticipation of such a development., information is required as to the, returns to be secured from moderately young specially bred beef cattle, raised on high-yielding pastures of a dairying type. It has been, ■proved ,in the past that ret upas from' lamb meat can be favourably compared with returns from milk pro- 1 duced on the. .same type of pastures. The question arises as to whether

chilled beef from stock sottiewhat younger than that ct present being frozen can similarly compete. Many areas of hi'gli-cl&ss dairying pastures ,'#t present inadequately fenced and watered for dairy cows e<re suitable for rapid production of beef, but it is necessary to know the returns to be secured a ton to grass consumed. RUSSIA AND SPAIN DEFEAT OTTAWA AGREEMENT ■ Although it has been laid down •that the Board of Trade in England mi ay prohibit the importation of g.ods produced by State aid and sold at a cost with which Empire exporters cannot possibly compete, Russian timber supplies are systematically destroying the Canadian industry. Russian l-in>b~r is State controlled t’-e London Times reports, and is produced by labour that is ether forced or is maintained on standards I much below those of other countri s. ' Although Canada is quoting at distress prices which sometimes represent a loss to producers, a clause af- ! forded by Russia- in her contracts with British importers has vicious consequences upon the''Empire exporter. A DAMNING CLAUSE * Russia arranges with the British importers tha.t any sums paid for 1 Russian, timber which turn out to be above those quoted'for timber from other sources shall be returned to the importer. The advantages,of this jto the importer can be plainly seen, as also that a builder, no matter how loyal, cannot afford to use Empire timber when the builder in the next street is using Russian timber of a quality equal to and a price below Canadian. The whole matter has been placed I before the British Government. COUTH AFRICAN ORANGES Spain in defeating the aim of the Ottawa agreement, lias succeeded in I defeating the' .South African ..orargegrower and in defeating her own ends. j-Her natu’ral period for marketing oranges is the six . months from No- , veinber to April. After April, England imposed a duty on foreign oranges to j give the South African grower the advantage cf the market :n that counj try’s natural season—which starts in .May. The -Spanish Government, to de- { feat the Ottawa preferences, offered growers a • bounty of three pesetas | (2s 4kl) 6n every case shipped—while ■the higher duty operated, with the result that Spanish oranges were I store- for* months and during June were dumped in England to the extent of 350,000’cases—more than 300,003 above the- 1 number landed in June last year. Spain lost a. lot of money; the market collapsed; South Africa could not make' the best of shipping; the Spanish fruit was in bad condition and thousands of cases of cranges have been dumped in the sea.

BUTTER FREIGHTS AUSTRALIAN EXPORT BOARD When accepting the reduction of freight on butter and cheese offered by the oversea shipping companies, the Australian Dairy, Produce Export Board requested that the new contract entered into with the shipowners, should ;be dated as from August 17,' the’'date from which the mett contract operated. Private cable messages were received by butter traders in Melbourne on September 14, stating that the shipowners have acceded to this request. Exports of butter and cheese consequently will receive a ryfund of 7\ pe.r cent, on freight paid from August 17 to date. Although the concession offered by shipowners on freights of butter to .London for th’s export season afford some relief to the dairying industry! in Australia, traders jn . Melbourne regret that the shipping companies c'dnld not determine the frieghts on the same scale between Australia and Britain as between New Zealand and Britain. In the negotiations it was pointed out to the shipowners that the steamer mileage showed very little difference between the voyages. At the new rate of 4s a box, kss 7\ per cent., and plus 18 per cent, of the cost of exchange of remitting freight to London, the cost gave New Zealand a useful average, an exporter said. The cost of shipment from Australia now was approximately £8 14s 8d a ton, and the charge from New Zealand to Britain was £7 5s 4d a ton. During the currency of the present Australian freight contract New Zealand would -be able to quote to an advantage against the Australian product.

PRODUCTION RECORDS THE ENGLISH BASIS Production records of practically all dairy cattle in England are based on irfi-lk yields, not butterfat yields as is the case in the Commonwealth. It is the cow that can produce an average of 10,0001 bof milk over a three year period that warranted first consideration in a. register of merit She is termed the “thousand gallon eow.” Out of the 200 entries for the seventh competition for the Dairy SJ.iorthorn Association’s 100 guinea gold challenge cups in England, 137 cows averaged over 10,0031 b of milk lor the .three years ending October 1 last, and seven averages exceeding •15,0G01b were returned. The winning cow has averaged 19,2001 b milk a year for three years.