INTERESTING RECONTRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 9

INTERESTING RECONTRE.

FARMING IN ENGLAND. (Fhok Our Own Cob respondent ) CHRISTCHURCH, February 10. Thirty-four years ago two Scots competed in a ploughing match in Dumbartonshire. They met last week at the Addingtor saleyards here for the first time since the match, oiip of them being Mr John Allan, of Waikari, and the other Mr S. Wallace, of Knebworth, Herefordshire, who is now on a visit bo New Zealand. Mr Wallace ie the lessee of a 1700-acre farm some 25 miles from London, and he chatted interestingly to a Frees representative on the general position of agriculture in England Rente ha\e been readjusted, and prices have been better for wool, mutton, and grain than has been the case for some years. Consequently farms aie much easier to let. The prices being asked for land in New Zealand, in Mr Wallace's opinion, made land as dear here a« in the Old Country. In fact, he thought that New Zealand farmers or their son 6 who were practical farmers could do ac well in the Old Land as in this Dominion, considering the cost of labour in the Dominion, and also the fact that the land ie overrun with weeds, such as fat hen, dock, and thistles. In the Old Land rents varied very much, but the 1700 acres he leased cost him £2400 per annum in rent, free of tithes and local rates. On his farm he grows potatoes, hay, and straw, and he also milks 200 cow 6. He estimates that manure and feed cost him 30s per acre per annum, and- that wage 6 amounted to, £2 per acre per annum. In addition to the stable manure produced on the farms, 6000 tons from London are used per annum. Asked regarding the conditions and wages of agricultural labourers in Great Britain as compared with conditions and wages in this country, Mr Wallace said single men employed on farms are better off in New Zealand. He pays labourers (single men) 16s per week, and they find themselves in everything. Ploughmen get 18s per week and find themselves, or if they are provided with a house they receive 16s. The rent obtainable for the houses T provide is between 4« and 4s 6d per week. Overtime is paid at the rate of 4d per hour for all time worked in excess of 10 hours per day. Dairy workers receive 1& per week, and are provided with houses Men engaged delivering milk are paid on commission, and some make as much as £2 per week. With these wages and with food as cheap ac it is at. Home, farm workers lhed well in Knebworth, which has a population of about 12,000. There are four shope which sell colonial and foreign mutton, and the bet New Zealand leare of mutton can be sot for 6d per lb. All the mutton is described as " Cantorburv." no matter where it. came from Coal, clothing, and fruit are much cheaper in England than in Xew Zealand. On the wapfes above quoted some of thp young fellows on farms saved money. There is at present no sign of widespread breaking up of large estates in Great Britain, the law of entail preventing much being done in this direction, and consequently little is being dono except where owners are compelled from various causes to cut up thoir estates. Mr Wallace anticipates that if tho price of erain kp<"o6 up more wheat will be grown in Great Britain. WASGANIJI RAM FAIF. WANG ANUI. February 13. The first day's sale of rhe Wanganui ram fair was held to-day at Messrs Freeman R. Jackson and Co.'s yards. There was a verylarge attendance of buyers from up and down the coast. A feature of the sale was the keen demand for Lincoln studs, the sale for the^e sheep being the best for many years. The highest prices for Lincoln studs were: Rayner's at 64gs and \\ Wybourne's 6Cgs. The highest averages were: M'Gregor Bros., £34 ss: Wybourne, £28 13s 6d; B. Rayner, £26 10s: and William Perry, £25 ss. Flock Lincoln, though not up to the standard of last year, sold at satisfactory figures, the highest being 21gs , the highest average for flocks being: M'Gregor Bros., £9 3e 9d. and Wybourne, £3 B*. Romneys of a gord class sold up to an average of £4 16s. the latter for W. Rayner's entry Leicester" and Downs were needceted. The sale will be continued to-morrow. February 14. Thp Wansranui ram fair was continued by Mc---rs Freeman R. Jackson and Co. to clay. Lincoln^ sold at prices Tenmuch on a par with thc-p. of the first day. and practiralh the whole entry na= quitted. In Lincoln flocks Mr W. H. Wvbourne again topped the market at 21 guineas, .averaging £3 7b 9d Me«-.is M'Greeor Bros.' entry made up to £15 4s6d. with an average of £11 12s. The highest average for Romneys was £5 4s. No etud sheep were offered to-day. Roosevelt Connaueln Edward T*ar Alfonso Wdhelm M'Nautfon was the name recently bestowed on an infant in Pittsburg. U.S.A. . Cheap Bulbs for present planting. Sep Nimjio and Blair's advertisement, page 8 of this issue, for specially cheap lines of Tulips, etc

Interviewed by a Bay of Pleniy Times reporter, Mr F M. B. Fisher, M.P. for Wellington Central, deplored the faot that fruit was rotting on the ground in and about Tauranga, and urged that steps should be taken to find an outlet in Wellington and other southern towns for $**$ produce Vf the local orchards.