OUT AND ABOUT

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 13

OUT AND ABOUT

THE WEEK IN OTAGO. The weather conditions during the week in Otago were generally favourable, with bright sunshine and cold nt night. ' Late in the week, however, show fell. along the coast and inland, but strong sunshine following soon dispersed it, and ' present prospects are pleasant. HORSE OR MOTOR TRAFFIC. Some time ago mention was. made of the fact that horse traffic instead of vanishing altogether from the roads was showing signs of a revival. Up to a point the motor vehicle would appear to be the' cheaper proposition, because its greater speed balances the comparative cost. -Taxation, however, would'seem in this country to have carried the proposition past that point. According to a statement published recently one of the Wellington carrying companies is taking its heavy motor trucks off the roads and replacing them with horse-drawn lorries in order to effect a saving of £375 in heavy-load license fees. A member of the firm declared that this was another instance of Government taxation defeating its own ends. .The repercussions in various directions are obvious. Less petroj is bought, and fewer tyres. There is less work for the garage mechanics, and so on. In.the end tlie State conceivably may be an actual loser by this ham-stringing of business enterprise.

THE PIG INDUSTRY. The first English-bred pig to be imported for nearly 15 years reached Auckland by the Ulimaroa last month, says an exchange. It was a large white Yorkshire boar, bred by Messrs Chivers and Son, of Cambridge, and imported for stud purposes by Mr Colin Anderson, of Kohimarama. The animal is of the type recommended by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe,- as most likely to improve breeding in New Zealand, and many similar animals have recently been purchased in England b.v Denmark, which has a highly profitable pig industry. The NewZealand Government has had in force for a long period restrictions on live stock importations from England, on account of foot-and-mouth disease. In' the past Mr Anderson has imported animals from Canada, but, he has purchased two more boars in England, and they are on the way to Auckland. EMPIRE BUTTER IN DEMAND. ’ The Produce Markets Review-, London, states that the London- County Council has set an example to authorities throughout Great Britain by insisting that al) butter used in institutions under its control should be Empire produce, In an endeavour to ensure a diet containing a maximum of nourishment, all kinds of food have been scientifically analysed or their production investigated. The authorities have been convinced that butter from Australia -'and New Zealand is richer in vitaminic content and general health-giv-ing properties than that from other parts of the world, and therefore ‘it is considered more economical The 'reason for this superiority is that the dairy herds are fed on pastures which experience a great deal more sunshine than those of any other butter-producing-country. The report states '■ that the fact that during the next few months Empire blitter, largely from Australia and:New;Zealand,-will be arriving in Great -Britain- at the rate of more than -10,000,0001 b a week, gives an idea of the recent rapid development of the Empire butter trade. . FACTORY ADVANCES INCREASED. From Monday- of last week advances to factories were fixed at lOd per pound for butter and 4Jd for cheese. This is an increase of Jd per lb on butter and fd per lb on cheese. It was understood that as soon. as the markets for butter and cheese improved that advances would be increased, and now that an improvement has taken place the increases have been made. . < The advances made during the current season on th-e first day of each month have been as under: —

A SERIOUS PEST. “ Hedgehogs are getting everywhere,” said Mr L. O. 11. Tripp in referring to bush vermin at the annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Societylast week. “They even get on the bitumen roads and are run over by motor cars. They- are difficult to cheek, yet they are useful to the market gardener, as they eat slugs. The trouble is : that. they eat eggs, and kill chickens and' young pheasants, and now we hear, they are killing young, rabbits. The fact is that they are'spreading all over New. Zealand, and it is most difficult to get rid of them.” Mr C. H. Bould said that hedgehogs were now a menace to all nesting game, and some steps would have to be taken to destroy them. “ I’ve got a whare on a section,” he said, “and I know I could get a sackful .of hedgehogs any day. The other day I put wit a dish of milk, and in half an hour there were seven hedgehogs all round it. It is no wonder the ground game are going as fast as they are, as these vermin are working night and day.” • . FAT STOCK SALE. Considering the conditions existing at present, the sale of ,fat stock,which war conducted .at the show on Wednesday . morning was very satisfactory to vendors, although it could not be Txnected that prices would be anything like those ot recent years. There was a fltll attendance of butchers, who , appeared ■ to be willing to compete, for anything suitaole for their requirements. The stock, genc-

rally speaking, was fully tip to the quality of recent years, the young stock particularly showing what could be done in the way of bringing out early, maturity. There was a good demand for sheep, the lambs bringing satisfactory .prices. ■ Messrs Stronach, Morris, and Co., Ltd., report having sold:—On account of Mr A. Carruthers (Ngapuna): ‘First prize steer under two years at £l6 to Bartons, Ltd.; first-prize steer under one-year at £8 10s to Mr C. J. Meinung (South Dunedin). On account of Mr William Moynihan (Ngapuna): One pen'third prize crossbred Down wethers at 21s to Mr A. G. Rennie (South Dunedin); . one pen second prize crossbred long-wool wethers at 27s to M‘Hugh Bros. (Frederick street, Dunedin). On account of Mr J. M. Beattie (Ngapuna): One pen second prize crossbred Down wethers at 28s. On account of Mr William Moynihan (Ngapuna): One pen third prize crossbred Down lambs at ‘As to Sims, Cooper, and C 0.,. Ltd. (Christchurch): one pen second prize crossbred Down lambs at 29s to South Dunedin Butchery, King Edward street.

Dalgetj- and Co., Ltd., report having sold:—On account of Mr-J. C. Renton (Mosgiel):• One hul’ock £l5 (sold to Barton's), one,bullock £7 15s (sold to D. Cunningham). On account Mr William Lindsay (Allanton): C heifer £9 (sold to James King), one heifer £l2 10s (sold to Barton’s). On account Mr R. T. Kirk (Mosgiel): One heifer £9 5s (sold to Fraser’s Butchery). On account Mr James W Blair (Outram): Three wethers 22s (to James Henderson), three 25s (to D. Cunningham), three 24s (to MTlugh Bros.). On account Mr William Lindsay (Wallacetown): Three wethers 38s (to South Dunedin Butchery). On account Mr George Gi ay (Wallacetown): Three lambs 325. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., report- having sold:—On account of Mr R. T. Kirk (Mosgiel): One fat bullock at ■ £l3 to Oxo Butchery (King Edward street). On account of Mr Alexander M'Laren (Goodwood): -Three fat lambs at 26s to R C. Storer (butcher, Maori Hill). On account of Mr J. M. Beattie (Ngapuna): Three fat lambs at 25s to Sims, Cooper; and Co. On account of Mr Alexander M'Laren (Goodwood): Three fat lambs at 26s to Mr Sam Brown (butcher, Tainui). Messrs Donald Reid and Co. sold one steer, on account of R. T. Kirk, for £B. Messrs Wright. Stephenson, and Co., on account of W. Carruthers, procured £2O for .one bullock and £l3 10s for another. On account of R. T. Kirk, a bullock realised £l6. - The Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Asso- - iation sold a bullock for £l4 10s. SHIPMENT OF STUD SHEEP. A -small consignment of Border Leicester stud sheep from Mr R. J. Anderson’s well-known Kauana Stud was shipped to Melbourne by ' the cargo steamer Wainui recently bv Messrs Wright. Stephenson, and Co., Ltd. This consignment was forwarded to Mr T. T. Clark, Woodend. North Victoria, and comprised one - one-shear stud Border Leicester ram and two one-shear stud. Border Leicester ewes.

For a considerable number of years. Mr Anderson’s sheep have been in keen de-mand-from Australian breeders, and sheep (also their progeny) which have been sold by Mr. Anderson to . Australian breeders have been very successful at the various shows-an Australia. Competent judges who have seen these sheep , are very strongly , of the opinion that they will do much to advertise Southland Borders on the other side. The last consignment sent forward is a particularly choice lot. being very favourably commented upon, and the purchaser should be. well pleased with the quality of the sheep. ’ Mr Anderson is to be congratulated on-his efforts in breeding sheep of such a good type, and so suitable for the export trade. SOUTHLAND FARMING. Mr R. B. Teimeiit. fields superintendent for Otago and Southland of the Department of Agriculture, speaking in Invercargill recently, referred to some of the- weaknesses in Southland to which attention might be given. ..Southland possessed a unique position in New Zealand agriculture as being the chief grass-seed producing, province of New Zealand. The system of agriculture in Southland was largely rotational Crops were grown and it was necessary, to plough up grassland and resow later. New-Zealand produced approximately 9;000.0001b of ryegrass seed annually, and of this 6,000,0001 b. were grown in Southland. This province also produced a great deal of brown top. which had once been considered worthless, but which was now recognised as an important component of certain classes of pastures. More important, however, was the fact that there was a large overseas demand for brown top. Southland had captured the American market, but. strong continental propaganda had been spread through the United State, with the rcsult that New Zealand brown top was infested with the red top and was. worthless. The Department of Agriculture had met this position by- inspecting the pastures and seed and certifying it free from red top, with the result that the market had again been captured for Southland. SHEEP WEIGHTS IN ARGENTINE. The Argentine Division of Control of the Meat _ Trade has issued -a statistical table giving the average weights and Prices of the different classes of sheep killed in the Argentine plants during 1929 and 1930.- The average weight of the wethers in both years was? the same. 551 b. The average weight of the ewes in 1929 was 61.61 b, while in 1930 the ave r age weight was 57.21 b. The nv°rage weight of lambs and hoggets in 1929 was 37.41 b. and in ' 1930 the average weight was exactly the same. The average weight of the sheen killed in the five plants oneratin<r op the south coast and designated as Patagonian freezers was in 1929 fof we*hers 441 b. The same average was also registered in 1930. Ewes i n 1929 averaged 39.61 b, while 1 in 1930 they averaged 37.41 b; Lambs and hoggets averaged in both years 28.61 b. ‘ EMPIRE WOOL FAIR. An Empire wool inrhist’-ies fair will be held at Bradford, Yorkshire, in July, and

it seems incredible. that Australia, the greatest sheep and wool country in the world, js not to be represented by an exhibit (says an exchange). Senator Guthrie recently asked in the benate : “ Has the Government taken steps to assist or arrange for exhibits Australia .at the fair, and, if iiot, will the Government take prompt steps to do so ? Is it a fact,” he continued, that Australia produces more wool and better wool than any other nation; if so, would not an exhibit, which could be provided for relatively little cost, prove to be a splendid advertisement for the Commonwealth ? ”

The answer was that the Minister of Markets had had under consideration the representation of Australia at the fair. The cost of representation would be about £250, It was considered that that expenditure should have been borne by the wool industry, but the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council had advised that it had decided not to provide an exhibit. In the circumstances the Commonwealth Government did not feel that the expenditure should be borne from public funds. . Although there may be some justification for the Minister’s statement that the expense of providing the exhibit should be borne by the wool industry, the fact that the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council had decided not to act, in no way, it is alleged, relieves the Government front the responsibility of taking advantage of the opportunity to secure so splendid an advertisement for the most important of Australia’s primary products, or at least to negotiate with the Woolgrowers’ Council with a view to sharing the expense. When it is considered that large sums have been spent to stimulate the demand abroad for other primary products, such as fruit, butter, wine, meat, and so on, to say nothing of the cost of visits to England. America. Canada, and the Continent by Cabinet Ministers to inquire into overseas markets, a large proportion of the cost of which is debited to public funds, it is difficult to understand why, in the case of a wool exhibit, a sum like £250 should cause the Minister of Markets such concern. .

IMPORTATION OF POULTRY. New regulations governing the importation of poultry into New Zealand were gazetted on April 30, and came into force on that date. The regulations prohibit, save with the consent of the Minister of Agriculture, the importation of any live poultry (including domestic fowls, ducks, geese, and turkeys) from any country, unless—(a) Each consignment is accompanied by -a certificate dated not more than one month before the exportation of the poultry to which it relates and signed : (1) In-the case of poultry intended for introduction from any-State in the Commonwealth of Australia by a responsible officer of the Government of the State of export certifying that he has examined the poultry to which such certificate relates and found them healthy and free, from disease, that, pseudo-fowl pest (or Newcastle disease) has not existed in that State during a period of two years immediately preceding -the date of the certificate, that the poultry are the product of. that State, and that they have not been in contact with any poultry affected with pseudo-fowl pest (or .Newcastle disease) during the period of. 12 months immediately preceding the date of .such certificate; or (2) in the case of poultry intended for introduction from any country other than the Commonwealth of Australia, by a responsible offier of the Government of the country of export or other person approved by the Minister of Agriculture, certifying that he has examined the poultry to which such certificate relates and found them healthy and free from disease, that fowl pest (Pcstis gallinarum) and pseudo-fowl pest (or Newcastle disease)- have not existed in that country during a period of two years 'immediately preceding the date of the certificate, that the poultry are . the nroduet of that country.' and that - they’ have not been in contact with any poultry affected with fowl pest (Pestis gallinaruiri) or pseudo-fowl pest (or Newcastle disease) during a period of 12 monthsiinmediatcly preceding the date of such certificate: and ‘(b) Every such certificate is produced at the port of landing to an inspector under the Stock Act. 1908; and

(v) A permit for the poultry to be landed is issued by such inspector upon? being satisfied that the certificate is in. order and that it relates to the consignment of poultry intended to be introduced,, and that the poultry are healthy and free from disease. JOTTINGS. There was no stock sale held at the Burnside’ Metropolitan Yards on . Wedv nesday: owing to the Otago Winter Show being in full swing at Dunedin. The motor, ship Zealandic lifted 6000 eases of apples in excellent ‘ condition.. This is the final export shipment of the CehtraJ Otago cron this season.- ■ »--■ No. outstanding prices were realised for the fat stock auctioned at the Dunedin Winter Show, values being in marked .contrast to those prevailing even last year. . . - ? i ■- ■ Favourable comments regarding the Winter Show are general, the new features introduced being much appreciated, while the lay-out and display of exhibits, were better than the high level reached at previous exhibitions. With butter selling wholesale in Mon- : treal last week at an equivalent of 10.|d per lb. the prospects of New Zealand doing business in that country, even were there no duty of 4d per lb. are not encouraging. It looks as if the great butter trade between New Zealand and Canada has gone. The Mid-Canterhury executive of the Farmers’ Union passed a resolution protesting against a reduction of wheat duties giving the grower less than 4s 9d for Tuscan on truck, March-April delivery; also urging that the alteration take effect on February 29, not February .1. . . ... . During the harvest season just ended a number of abnormally' large yields have been obtained by farmers on the 'Waimea Plain, Nelson. From a

four-acre field one farmer threshed 74 bushels. to the acre. Another threshed 72 bushels to the acre from 31 acres, and yields of between 60 and 70 bushels to the acre have been recorded by a number of farmers. Lambing is now far enough advanced to allow of a perspective of the season, says an English exchange. On the whole the season has been reasonably favourable, particularly in flocks where the' bulk of the lambs fell after the drier weather set ,in. Lambs have, as A' rule, been strong and healthy and well up to the average in numbers. Casualties among both ewes and lambs have probably been rather heavier than usual, but otherwise ewes generally Lave plenty of milk,, and both ewes and lambs are doing Well. In Scotland, however, hand feeding had to be resortej to

dming the severe, weather to maintain the condition of the ewes. In hill flocks, prospects are favourable. Lambs are doing remarkably well in Central Otago,’ and during the past week large drafts have gone forward to the freezing works. One.' particular line of over 1000 was trucked at Middlemarch last week from one fattener. As all the lambs going forward are hill lambs and were purchased when the market was at bottom, owing to the increased schedule rates : there is now a fair margin of profit for .-the fattener. Recent warm rains have forced a great growth of mushrooms in .different parts of the Geelong district, Australia, and unemployed and farm hands are, in some

instances, making big money in harvesting them. One party of men delivered 2V cases recently and received £l3 13s for their labours. In all, 200 eases were dispatched from Geelong on one day. A farmer found it much more profitable tc gather mushrooms than to grow wheat, lie received £5 5s for 18 cases. and other parties of two and three made £3 10s a day. A decided recovery is apparent, says the London Morning Post, in the affairs of the Smithfield and Argentine Meat Company in the annual report for the year to December 30 last. The profit for tee year was £119,117, compared with a net loss of £IB6O in 1929, following on previous bad years, which bad left a legacy of £28,093 in the shape of a debit balance, and the improved results are ascribed to extensive reorganisation of the business in Argentina, coupled with rigid economy throughout the business. An aggregate entry of approximately 600 head of fat cattle came forward at the Westfield fat stock sale on Tuesday Values held at late rates, prime ox making 21s to 25s per 1001 b, and prime cow and heifer 17s to 245. Canner cow wa» down to 8s 6d. A small yarding of veal met an improved market, choice prime calves making from 35s to 80s. Exporters came into the sheep market for the first time for several months. Prime wethers made 12s to 17s 3d, and ewes 8s to 15s 6d Prime woolly lambs sold at around 5Jd tr 51d a lb- Baconers made around 5d a. lb Porkers were firmer at up to sJda lb. Mr H. E. Holland declares that by increasing land and income tax it will be possible to pay standard rates of wages on relief works (says an exchange. The Mnw.ter of Labour retorts that many people who paid income tax last year are now. '■ among the • unemployed'. “Farmers are receiving .no income oil which to pay tax,” says Mr Smith. It is quite time the Leader of the Labour Party made up his mind that this continual clamour for standard wages at a time when everybody but those in the sheltered trade unions is suffering reduction of income is more likely than not to exasperate public opinion. It is not mere’y that the Government has declared that there ds hot- enough money to go round, but the people themselves have

realised ficin personal experience that it is a fact. Taxation has already reached the poijit where it seriously handicaps t:ie efforts of industry, aud of individuals, to turn the corner, and there is a very real danger that if the burden is increased stagnation will be jdie result. A deputation representing the local X ocational Guidance Committee waited on the Minister of Agriculture (Mr A. J. I Murdoch) on Tuesday, morning to place before him the difficulty existing at present of securing work on farms for boys who were unable to find employment in the town. The deputation, which consisted of Messrs J. L. Salmond, J. R. Fairbairn, R. Duncan, and A. Steele, requested that assistance from some Government source should be provided towards placing these lads with suitable farmers who would give them a good general farm training. After hearing the deputation, the Minister said that he recognised that its suggestion was a valuable oue, and he promised- to discuss the matter with the Minister of Education, with a view to ascertaining if any means could be adopted to assist in the . work, which, besides giving the boys a start in life, would provide the farmers of the future. “ Business, like charity,” observes the Governor-General on the subject of preference in purchasing, “must begin at home. It is true patriotism and the height of prudence to support local industries by puchasing their products.” EmphaMc to the principle of patriotism enunciated by Lord Bledisloe is given in. such organised appeals as those at present current in the Dominion. It must be remembered, however, that the prosperity of our secondary industries depends upon the seller as well as the buyer. In a recent address on “The. Foundations of Commerce," Sir Francis Goodenough, chairman of the British Government Committee on Education for Salesmanship, said that business people had been inclined to concentrate over-much on methods of management, and increasing production, ■ and not enough on the problems of marketing their products. “ The humming machinery of production, the men" em-

ployed in it. the works themselves, are all obvious and interesting,” lie remarked, “ but what is less obvious, but even more important, is- the customers’ goodwill.” It is just as important that the New Zealand manufacturer should cultivate the. goodwill of his local public as it is desirable that the New Zealand purchaser should cultivate the patriotic habit of supporting his home industries-. In the present state of unemployment the latter is inclined to meet the manufacturer more than halfway. The business of the former should be to see that the customer is so well served, and so satisfied, that he comes back again.

Butter. Cheese. Pence Pence Month. per lb. per lb. August .. 12 6.1 September .. 11 6 October .. 10 5 1 November 9.1 5o December 9" 41 January .. .. 10 41 February .. 10 4 March' .. .. 11 ’ 4 -2 April 9f 4 May .. 91 31 June .. 10 41