STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES. BY DROVER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 8

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES. BY DROVER.

W«*kly Stock Sales: f Monthly: Burneidc, "Wednesdays Xgapara, first TkunAAburton, Tuesdays **V in • ach J n £? t i l Fortnightly : Clinton. Palmerston. Balclutha, Fridays • Winton, and- WaiCraxe, Tuesdays I kcuaiti. Ostmaru, Tuesdays ' Periodically: Invercargil., Tuesdays Heriot. Kelso, Kyeburn The c;ock markets are dull. Supplies are plentiful, as there is practically only the local market to eater for, and prices are easier for mutton. Most of the lambs yarded are taken by, graziers. The good 1 winter and the prospects of an early spring, coupled with the steady market and good prospects of wool, have a steadying effect on the sheep and lamb markets, which otherwise might be more depressed. Tl.e Pastoralists' Review of July 15 gives an interesting review of the Australian fro»rn meat trade for the 12 months ending June 30, 1909. There was an increase of 461,000 in the number of carcases of mutton exported, in which all the States except Victoria participated. This is an average of 52 per cent. Tho largest increases were iTom Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. The number of sheep in the-ie Sta ies has been steadily increasing, &nd there is more surplus stock there than in other States. The lamb shipments show a falling eff of 89,000, the comparative figures being— l9oß-9, 1,339.063 carcases; 1907-8, 1,428,236 carcases. The export from "Victoria decreased 163,000 carcases, due to a dry autumn and a bad lambing. South Australia made vo increase in lamb export, due to similar causes. New South Wales showed an increase of 90,000 lambs, . due mainly to the excellent season in tine Northern districts. Queensland showed no increase, the Darling downs having sufferc.i from drj weather during the whole year. Beof exports show an increase of 68,000 quarters, or 30 per cant., Queensland being mainly responsible for' this. - The 'Australian frozen meat trade with South Africa is rapidly diminishing, and will soon be a thing of the past, and the shipments ' to other places than South Africa and United Kingdom show a decrease of 10 per cent, on an already small export, and no new outlets 6eem to offer for any quan- j tity. Vancouver and Honolulu have been tried witl shipments, but no gTeat result . is expected, and the lr«de with Japan and Manila is alsc feeble and failing. As |o ' South Africa, agriculture is thriving there, • and they will probably be exporting meat soon, as the> already export oats an<f maize in considerable quantities. The result of the frozen meat trade of Australia this year ' to buyers is, of course, disastrous, most of . the meat having been bought and shipped before prices dropped so terribly. The ! quality of f he meat was up to the average, and perhaps better. New and extensive freezing works are being- constructed at Geelong, and works in the Wimmera district are contemplated. The area under green forage crops for lambs increased from 240,000 _aer.?s to 440,000 acres. The writer,however, shows that. s New Zealand had in 1908 120.00& acres uude'r turnips and 164,000 acres under rape and various other crops. An increase in artificial feed for topping | off lambs i« strongly recommended. Thp article concludes with the following on the prospects: — Tno prospect for the 1909-K season, as regards exports, is a very open question, ■particularly so in view of the present low values ruling in England. So far the seaeonal conditions are extremely favourable for 6tock, the lambing has been excellent, and plenty of feed is assured to carry over the .winter. If London values for frozen meat returned ■to the level of 1907-8, this state of affairs could be taken to indicate a large increase in the output of lamb. However, at present everything points to a considerably lower range, and should such prove to be the case anything may happen. The exporters cannot be expected to pay the same price for stock as they did last year. Their losses were tremendous during the past six months, and they are not likely to face the same ■gain this season. Therefore growers will in all probability be faced with the following alternatives:— To consign on their own accounts and risk the market; sell to s-hip-jpers at lower rates; or hold their lambs. sThe first is now done to a. smtll extent in come of the States, and is to be deprecated, •because it means a multiplicity of selling •gents in England", which tends to weaken, fthe market. The third alternative would in many cases be very unwise, if not impossible, on account of tine overstocking it would) •ntail. We believe the second course will . (be most generally followed, and certainly; fthink it will be the best for the trade. It •will, perhaps, mean accepting (according to ths value of tho skins) 3d to 3Jd per 1b over »U for lambs delivered at the works. Then •an are Tape 361b lamb will be worth from 9s fto 103 6d. As this is probably the exact fcmount that the meat will fetch* in London, ithe shippers will only have the skins and fat to cover interest, tho cost of freezing, bagging, freight, insurance, storage, etc. {faking all things into consideration, we are Inclined to estimate the lamb export to TJiiJted Kingdom at 1.500,000 carcases, Vut ' |h»t estimate 13 entirely dependent on J

• graziere realising the position and accepting the above prices for their stock. The mutton output will probably be about the same as last year, or a- little larger, aay 1,200,000 to 1,e00,000 carcases to Great Britain. The rhance* ?.r,-« that Queensland will show .a large increase, but the ether States may not. Howey*r, if values in England get much lower it may pay better to boil down sheep than to freeze them. T'bs export of beef to the United Kingdom will most likely increase. Perhaps 250,000 quarters will be sent from Queensland, and the shipments will be heaviest, towards the end of the season (MaToh-June). No expansion is anticipated with other countries, but vt is hoped that th» existing trade will be maintained. Sir Joseph Ward, according to the cables, reminded the great ones assembled at the Guildhall to do him honour that it is neVer wise to prophesy till after the event. I think, however, the advice given above is generally sound, and holds good for New Zealand as well as Australia. New Zealand farmers will be wise to base all their calculations on a lower range of values in sheep and lambs in the near future. If so, then when the improvement we all would wish to see does come, it will be all the j better for thana. f The Home and Foreign Produce Ex- , change of London lately held a meeting, at i which they amended tkeir rules. As several ; of these alterations affect New Zealand. I <h.ink_ it important that dairy factories ehoiiki be made aware of them. It is satisfactory to know that, despite the strenuous efforts of some buyers, it was decided that no beamage should be allowed on cheese. Some suggested that if beamage (that is, allowance in weight for cloth and scale boards) on cheese was allowed, the makers, yyould increase the weight of the cloths, and it was stated that under similar oondit ; ons the bacon wrappers, had increased in weight 51b einoa beama.sre on baron was done away with. These delinquents were. I presume, American and British. I don't, believe the New Zealand factories will be co foolish or so 'unfair as to increase the weight of cheese-cloth. During the discussion the increase in moisture in butter from New Zealand was freely commented on, as sho,wing srreedincHS and unfairness on the part of New Zealand butter factories. , The following is a copy of circular by ''a London house to their customers: — ! 26th % June, 1909. Gentlemen, — A meeting of the provision trade, embracing all classes of dealers, was held on the 23rd inst. at the Home and Foieign Produce ExcLarge, London Bridge, 8.E., with the object of bringing into unison the rules of London and provincial markets, when, amongst other matters, the subject of beimage on cheese was very thoroughly discussed, affd it was decided that from the Ist paoximo no beamage shall be allowed on Canadian. American, New Zealand, and Australian cheese, which will cause the rule regarding weighing to be similar to that existing in Livierpcel, Bristol, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, etc Consequently, any sales made by us o-n and after July 1 will be in accordance with the foregoing decision. The next clause makes it compulsory on a factory selling its output to deliveiwithin 10 per cent, (more or less) of the quantity sold. In case of flood, fire, ■ drought, or diseases among cattle, and such like-, this would be impossible, but probably these eventualities would come under the legal, rule of .yforce majeur" or the "act of God," and -factories might so be protected. The most important clause passed was No. 5, and I desire to call particular attention te this clause, and so quote it in full: — Quality and Warranty. — (a) The Government graders' certificate issued at the time of shipment 1 shall be final and binding on all parties, unless, in the opinion of the buyee, some manifest error has occurred • in the grading, in which case the buyer shall have the option of submitting the mat- . ter to arbitration as hereinafter mentioned, provided that such arbitration be claimed in •writing within three business days after the • g cod shall have. been landed, or if the goods be landed before tb.3 buyer has sighted the draft and (or) received invoice, then within v three business days after sigHting or receipt. i (b) All goods are warranted tha-t at the time of shipment they are- pure and, free | from all adulteration and made or manuj factured in accordance with the requirements of any statute, and (or) Orders-in-Council in force in the United Kingdom. (c) Where the whole or part of the exported output of a factory or creamery is sold no tender of second grads shall exceed 15 per cent, on any first grade contract for butter or cheese, the buyer to be entitled ■ to a reasonable allowance for difference in quality. The time for selling outputs of cheese and butter .for the season ie now at hand, i and factory directors will have to take care Chat none of these London arbitration clauses are intrcduccd int« their selling contracts urawaies. - ,\Vith regard to subsection (c), there is no particular objection to it ; hardly a factory in New Zealand makes 15 per cent, of second grade, and even if they did, the usual allowance fe id per 1b on butter and id per 1b on cheese for any going second grade, and with this allowance buyers are content, and would be even if more than 15 per cent, went second grade. With regard to sub-section (b*, provided we keep clear of moisture over tho 16 per cent, allowed by the British act— and I think for safety in making fir=t-c-la=« butter it f-hould not exoeed J3 per cent. — we have nothing to fear from this clau-e. With regard to subsection (a). I advi-e factories to repudiate it altogether. It reads well till sou get to the word vxless, and then there i* danger anead. It practically means that selling on Government grade as in the past, this being tha warrant} and final arrangement as to quality, is done^ away with, and the whole question of quality may be reopened if in the London buyers' opinion it should be. and then it is a question of arbitration. Those in the meat trade know too well the disastrous results of London arbitration. The Hon. Mr T. Mackenzie has frequently spoken of this matter. It is a scandal and a dis/rrace, and has many times lowered the price of meat for months. Arbitration as suggested in this clause would work the same disaster in connection with our dairy produce. Let the contracts made between the buyers and the factories be as specific ac can be mutually agreed on, but I hope factories will take my advice and make the point that payment is f.o.b. ocean steamer on the grade certificate, and that tihie is final, and that no arbitration in London affects the question at all. This has been so in the past, and until this past searon i has been entirely satisfactory. I regret

that some fac*oi>es added too much moisture to lxitt-or. and admit that in many oases a. g£\sSa injustice was done to the buyers, all SHch transactions being a disgrace to New Zealand.

Let the butter contracts include a rnoistura content clause by oil imeans, and any other clause buyer and seller may agree on, so long as finality is reached when the goods are on board ocean 6teamer. But this must be final. If this London arbitration clause is allowed, we may do away with Government grading, fox it would no longer be a protection to the factories selling in a year when butter or cheese &lumped. This opinion of the buyer would then generally be in favour of "arbitration," and everyone who knows anything at all knows that when you submit in suoh a case to arbitration j-or are completely done for.

Some London buyers may try to get these aribitration clauses inserted into contracts. They should be avoided, no matter how tempting a price is offered. I say soil to those who buy f.o.b. on Government grade as final, and there will be plenty of such well-known firms.

There is no mistake tho increased moisture in New Zealand butter has mad-s a great sensation, and has been advertised all over the- United Kingdom. See what it is to fall • from grace. New Zealand butter had a high name, and has fallen in reputation. Australian and Siberian both do the water-logging, but- no one notices them. No one expected as muoh of them as from New Zealand. A firm advertises a moisture-testing machine, and wse3 as a lever the moisture frauds in New Zealand butter. I believe our Agentgeneral would have prosecuted this firm, but, unfortunately, the figures used wore taken from the New Zealand Government Department of Agriculture, and could not toe refuted. Tliey also quote as follows from the (Londonl Grocer, and it does not sound nice — namely: —

Not only is the retailer en this side placed in a very awkward position, but the agent or buyer of 'the goods is also likely to be very seriously prejudiced in more ways than one, because he is not only' liable to prosecution and ft very heavy fine in respect of butter containing excessive moisture 1 , but, having parted with his money in New Zealand and p.aid over money to -bhe bank, he would in all .probability find it very difficult to pet tihat money returned, the factories in the majrity of cases being co-operative, and having very little, if any, capital. It is unnecessary for us io point out the great hardships which would bo inflicted on both the retailer and the importer of butter at this end should ei+her be prosecuted for selling any of this waterlogged commodity, because "both have been relying on what the New Zealand Government and the New _ Zealand producer have so continually pointed out as being a great safeguard — namely, that the butter is all Government graded.