OUT AND ABOUT

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 13

OUT AND ABOUT

. THE WEEK IN OTAGO. Weather conditions were , decidedly wintry during the week, culminating in snow, more or less heavy, throughout Otago. BURNSIDE MARKET. Comparatively moderate yardings of f-at stock were offered at the Burnside Metropolitan Market on Wednesday to a somewhat sparse attendance, although the usual town butchers were present. Few graziers put in an appearance, and in the circumstances the entries of store stock were moved off under a very elack demand. The yarding of fat cattle, 176 compared with 224 the previous week, met with a spasmodic demand. The quality ranged from very fair to good, with here and there some prime heavy bullocks, but the bulk of the entry comprised young bullocks, together with a large sprinkling of average cows and a few prime heifers and unfinished steers. The demand was of an uneven nature, heavy bullocks meeting with competition, and prices for these were maintained. Light prime young bullocks declined 10s per head, and cows were several shillings under the previous week’s rates. Values generally' may be quoted as much the same as at the last sale, the better class of bullocks making to 27s per 1001 b.

An entry of 1709 fat sheep *(2519 last I sale) met with brisk competition, and ' heavy wethers improved 2s 6d to 3s per head, heavy ewes improving Is 6d, while average wethers also moved up Is to 2s, the demand holding throughout the sale. Butchers' may be quote ac making to 3|d per lb. The supply of fat lambs, 789, as against 632 the previous week, lacked quality for the most part, although some heavy pennings were featured together with some very fair consignments of average weights. Fat lambs made much the same money as a week ago for heavy sorts, but light and secondary quality declined Is to Is 6d a head, prime light lamb making up to 6d per lb, and others around 4?d per lb. An indifferent yarding of mixed cattle met with a very slow demand. Included in the entry were some 20 one-and-a-half-year-old steers of very fair breeding, the balance comprising ordinary cows of medium to fair quality. The young steers made £1 10s to £1 13s aud appeared cheap, despite the low price ruling for fat cattle. A small entry of 54 fat pigs, mostly porkers, were sold at a reduction of 5s per head, bacon sorts (only a few being entered) realising close up to last sale’s rates. The previous week 161 fats were offered and 48 stores, while only halt a dozen small stores were yarded on Wednesday. Porkers made to Old, and baconers to s|d per lb.

RED POLL. CATTLE. The annual meeting .of the New Zealand Red Poll Cattle Society decided to instruct its delegate to the Royal Agricultural Society to support the lifting of the embargo on live stock imports. The following officers were elected:—Patron, Sir Heaton Rhodes; council (five vacancies), Messrs L. Anderson (Wanganui), H. Bryant (Manakau). J. Harding (Waipukurau), L. Wild (Feilding), and H. Wilson (Huntly). The council elected Mr Harding president, Messrs J. Donaldson (Stirling) and W. Leask (Waikato) vicepresidents, and Mr Wild secretary. THE STORE PIGS “ROOTING.” Alleged ill treatment of pigs was mentioned before the Lewes magistrates when John Leslie Halliday, of Preston Court Farm, Beddingham, near Lewes, appeared at the instance of the R.S.P.C.A. on a summons for causing unnecessary suffering to 46 pigs by mutilating their noses on March 13, there being a second summons of a similar nature relating to three pigs on March 16. Mr Guy Wallington, solicitor, of Brighton, appeared for defendant, and pleaded not guilty on both summonses, says the Farmer and Stockbreeder.

Mr Gordon Jones (barrister), for the R.S.P.C.A.. said the allegation was that a V-shaped piece was removed from the top of the pigs’ snouts with the object of preventing them “ rooting.” The operation was performed by forceps, specimens of which were produced in court. He said in certain cases it might be necessary to ring pigs to prevent them from “ rooting,” but the society took the view that the operation complained of in this case was brutal and that it could not be justified cither from the humane point of view or from the point of view of the law. This mutilation of the pigs’ noses was much more painful than ringing, and the society felt that if these forceps, which were first introduced in Germany about 1907 or 1908, were permitted they would be relapsing into the days of barbarism.

Inspector Edward Winn, R.S.P.C.A., of Eastbourne, said the pigs ranged in . ages from nine weeks to four months. They had V-shaped cuts in the top of their snouts ranging from half an inch wide and half an inch deep to just over an inch wide and about an inch deep. The three larger pigs had simi'ar cuts in their snouts, but in one case the incision was; nearly two inches wide at the top. He? admitted that such a wound would have a. tendency to expand in a Five pig before the healing process began. "Mr William Cawthornc, of Willcsden. Mr n. V. Dier.' of Crowborough, and Colonel Bruce L. Lane, of London, veterinary surgeons, expressed the opinion that the operation complained of was much more painful than ringing the pigs’ noses, and that rings were much more effective in preventing the animals “rooting.” They said they had not heard that this practice was extending in this country, especially in the Midlands. Mr Wallington said the case for defendant was that the operation of “snicking the pigs’ snouts ” was less painful than ringing, as it could be carried out much more expeditiously. The size of the incisions had. he suggested, been exaggerated by the witnesses for the prosecution, the actual incision being about a-quarter of an inch wide and a quarter of an inch deep.

Mr Roy Turnbull,’ ..veterinary surgeon, of Lewis, said the nigs did not appear to bo any the wm-o for the operation. He thought the snick in the snout less.

painful and more effective than ringing, as- it.could be done almost instantaneously, while inserting three rings in a pig's nose, which was the usual practice, would take at least -two minutes. Rings also had a tendency to be torn out, causing a wound. In some parts of the country the operation of snicking the pigs’ noses was rather widely used. Mr J. B. Dier, veterinary surgeon, of East Grinstead, expressed a similar view.

Defendant said he kept about 150 pigs on the average. The forceps were introduced to him about two years ago, and he first used them on pigs that had the habit of rooting out -and eating rubbish. Records which he kept showed that the animals did better a fortnight after the operation than they did a fortnight before it, and they did not suffer any inconvenience. After that he had no hesitation in using the instrument on all the pigs.

The Bench had a long consultation, after which the chairman (Mr J. I. Blencowe) said they had decided to dismiss both summonses. They were not prepared to convict, but in making that decision they were not committing themselves to saying that they approved or disapproved of this practice. It was evident that if the operation was to be performed it must be performed with the greatest possible care. COUNTRY STOCK SALES. BALCLUTHA. There,, was a good attendance at the fortnightly sale, but the yarding of store sheep was not equal to that of the previous sale; 1006 fats were penned and 660 stores. Fat lambs sold at 12b 6d to 14s 6d; fat wethers, up to 15s; fat ewes, 12s for heavy, 5s to 8s for lighter sorts; store wethers. 9s to 12s; soundmouthed ewes, 7s; cull ewes, 2s 6d; lambs, 6s to 8s 6d. Fat bullocks sold at up to £lO 7s 6d; f<it cows, £5 15s to £6 10*;; fat heifers, £4 2s 6d to £6 2s 6d; forward heifers, £5 2s 6d; 18-month-old heifers, £3 2syearling heifers, £1 2s 6d; store bullocks, £6 to £6 15s; two-year-old steers, £3 10s. lhere was a good (Fernand for dairy cows close to profit. These sold at from £7 to £lO for young cows; older sorts averaged about £6. lhe demand was keen for pigs, and prices were wonderfully good considering that the factories are only offering 5d and 4d a lb for best- baconers. Good” suckers sold at 22s 6d; small and weedy down to 5b and 4s, while well-grown slips realised 295. SALE OF STUD STOCK. Mr Andrew Carruthers, the well-known I and successful breeder of Clydesdale horses, has just shipped to Australia by the s.s. Waikouaiti for a client in New South Wales five highly-bred and successful show colts. The pick of this shipment is Seamark, a four-year-old horse of . excellent, breeding, with a show record as follower—Second prize at the 1929 Royal Show at Invercargill, first prize at the Dunedin parade as a two-year-old, and first and champion at the Strath-Taieri

Show in 1931. His sire is .the wellknown Seaman (imported), arid his dam the prize mare Lovely, by Maynard (imp.), while his grand-dam is the imported mare Gibson Girl, by Baron Gibson. This is undoubtedly a good stamp of a Clydesdale horse, and a beautiful mover. Another of the consignment is the three-year-old colt Arderlea, bred by Mr J. T. James. Middlemareh, and his sire is the imported horse Brunstan Duplicate, while his dam is Stella, by Maynard (imp.). Maynard, it will be remembered, is by the 5000-guinea horse Bonnie .Bucklyvie. This colt was first and champion at the 1930 Strath-Taieri Show. Claphamdale, also a three-year-old, bred by G. Cross. Oxford, Canterbury, is included in the shipment. His sire is the Roval Show champion Medrox Print, and his dam is by Scotland’s Success, both of which were winners of Wright, Stephenson and Co.’s| Challenge Cup at the Dunedin parade. Claphamdale was first as a yearling, and also as a two-vear-old, at the Oxford Show. Royal Fergus, a three-year-old colt bred by Mr G. Hutton. Yaldhurst, Canterbury. Hi e sire is the imported horse Prince Fergus, and his dam Royal Pansy, by Black Douglas. He is a beautifully-bred colt, but has never been shown. The last of the selection is Alma Chief, bred by Mr J. Reid. Alma, Oamarii. His sire is Mr J. M. Smith’s Royal Show winner Bonnie BaTinedie, while his dam is by Scotland’s Hero (imp.). Alma Chief was shown at Palmerston and Waikouaiti, winning first prize and champion on each occasion.

THE ROYAL SHOW. The Royal Agricultural Society’s conference was concluded at Auckland on Thursday last. The council of the society has undertaken to consider an application on behalf of Auckland for the. 1932-33 Royal Show. The show would be held in February, .1933. it wag stated, givrffg an interval of 15 months. After this year’s show at Christchurch there would be another show in November, 1933. WAIKATO DAIRY OUTPUT. Dairy .produce manufactured by the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company. Ltd., for the 1930-31 season totalled 46.743 tonsi an increase of 2146 tons, or 4.6 per cent., compared with the output for the previous season. In 1919-20 the company’s output was 11.652 tons; 1927-28. 35,338 tons; 1928-29. 39.133 tons; 1929-30. 44.597 tons; 1930-31. 46.743 tons. The individual quantities of the various products made during 1930-31 are as follows:—Butter. 32.289 tons: cheese, 83SS tons; milk powders. 5023 tons; casein, 1043 tons. The corcrspondipg figures for 1929-30 are:—Butter, 32.451 tons; cheese, 6563 tons; milk powders, 4383 tons; casein, 1200 tons.

SMUT IN BARLEY. The. danger of imported diseaseinfected barley flooding the New Zealand market was raised by Mr D. Jones (Mid? Canterbury) in the House of Representatives last week when he taxed the Department of Agricuulture with lack of diligence. Authorities agreed that smut could be eradicated if a real effort were made. He said that large areas in

Canterbury were being planted with disease-free barley. The loss from smut was sometimes 30 per cent, of the crops. Yet the Minister of Agriculture held that it would not matter if smut were introduced, for it could be cured. It might be said that it would not matter if diphtheria were brought into the Dominion for it could be cured. Farmers ought to be protected against disease in every sense. No barley should be. brought into New Zealand unless free from smut. Australia was sendimr laree quantities oi weed-infected chaff into New Zealand, and great trouble had been caused in Canterbury. He was not satisfied with the reply of the Minister of Agriculture concerning barley. Far from receiving help from the Government so far as agricultural pursuits were concerned Canterbury had lately received nothing but hindrance.

RUSSIAN BUTTER. The decision of a number of the most important retailers of butter in the United Kingdom to cease handling Russian butter "is of considerable significance. With one section of trade having imposed some check upon the purchase and sale of Russian butter, the question is raised (says the Melbourne Argus) wli tlur distributors of other Russiafi products will be influenced to- take similar action. In the case of butter the discovery of a single cattle tick in a pound of. butter

may be trifling as a factor in causing steps to be taken against the purchase of Russian supplies, but as anti-Russian propaganda it may serve a useful purpose. Apart from conscript labour in Russia, the incident would suggest that British people have not forgotten that Russia has repudiated its debt to Great Britain of millions of pounds, and that it has no intention of p-ying pry »-nr»ion <->f th : * monev. Further, millions of pounds worth of British property in Russia has been confiscated, for which no compensation is ever likely to be forthcoming. There are people in all countries who care not with whom they trade so long as they can make capital out of their dealings. This is ’evident in Australia to-day. and it is believed that efforts are to be made to bring-about extensive imports of Russian petrol and oils.

CHEESE STABILISATION. An attempt is to be made to bring about stabilisation in . the values of cheese, and a , scheme, which includes Tasmania, was -brought into operation on June 1 (says the Tasmanian Weekly Courier). The aim is to keep cheese prices at a parity with butt r. I he process is -along the same lines - as has been adopted with butter. I’hc system is to export through, the larger factories, thus relieving the pi assure on the home market, and equalising the price of cheese exported with the local price rilling at the time of shipment. ■ The scheme should bring about more .cheese production in Tasmania. or rather keep it ' up to the -normal level.

If this move had not been made, the output of cheese would have been considerably reduced in Tasmania owing to the unprofitable price. It is expected that .the export overseas will make a clearance of the mainland market, and there should be a demand there by the time Tasmanian cheese in the coming season is available for distribution. The factories will export at a loss, and for that reason a levy of three-eighths of a penny is being made on every gallon of milk. This is paid into a fund which will be used to make the price of cheese exported up to the level of local values at the time of exportation. THE SEASON IN AUSTRALIA. The main grazing areas of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia have recorded moderate to heavy rains during the past month (says the Pastoral Review). Coming eo soon after previous falls these have brought natural pastures away with a rush, and in many districts it-is difficult to find sufficient stock to cope with the feed. Queensland experienced a dry month. The central and southern sheep areas are mostly all right as regards feed, but a good deal of the cattle country in the north and on the coast -north of Rockhampton is in a bad way. The Peak Downs district is also dry. Melbourne and Sydney works, and to a lesser extent some in Queensland, are treating quite considerable tallies of sheep and lambs for this time of the year. As yardings are- increasing it is anticipated that killings of sheep at all events will be more than maintained during June. The unsatisfactory selling conditions have forced Queensland exporters to reduce their buying limits for beef somewhat. Those operating in the southern district® are now understood to be offering 23s to 24s per 1001 b delivered for good average mobs; in the central division the rate is about 21s, and in the north from 18s to 19s a hundred. Further heavy rains have fallen in the eastern States, and sowing of„ cereals is still being held up in a number of districts. While that was not of much moment a month or so ago, the delay is now becoming serious. It probably means that quite a considerable area intended for wheat cannot be seeded, or, alternatively, will be sown out of correct season. Often where sowing has been possible, the wet conditions have ; interfered with the preliminary working of the land, and have brought on a crop of weeds that it has been ■ impossible to destroy properly. Early sown crops that went in under favourable conditions have germinated well, and are making rapid growth. Frosts would be welcome in South Australia .and Victoria to check the spread of ' a mouse plague. The rodents have appeared in large numbers in parts of the Mallee and Wimmera districts of Victoria and across the border in South Australia. The rainfall in South and Western Australia has been lighter than in the east. Seeding operations there have not been delayed' to any great extent. With the final month (June) of the season approaching its end, it will be of interest to indulge in a restrospective glance at its main features, which may be summed up in two —exchange premium and Japanese competition for wool. Both are now in the history of the trade, to an extent at least, as, although the latter has been in evidence of late years, it has not been the driving force it was this season.

As to how long the first of the two will be a factor it is of course difficult to say (and indeed to-day, though the carded rate is 30 per cent., it would be difficult to obtain any money at that rate), but sooner or later it will cease to have any material effect.

That, however, does not apply to competition from Japan, which, having lifted that country into the third position in the list of nations buying Australia’s wool this season, bids fair to keep on increasing. By the way, the latest figures of shipments of wool to Japan since July 1 last are 423,206 bales, which compare with some 220,000 bales in 1925-26, truly a most.extraordinary increase.

One wonders whether this great expansion of business is due so much to that country’s exploring new channels for the use of wool, or simply a diversion of manufacture from the old world -to the Pew. The representative of a well-known Dutch firm domiciled in Australia just returned from an annual trip to Java reports that Japan has quite ousted Manthester in that country, so far as textiles

are- concerned, and also in other lines. Again, Bradford's trade with India is a diminishing one, an old-established English wool buyer here recently making that statement. In addition, there is the Home Rule movement in India, including as it does the boycotting of English goods, all playing into the hands of the Japanese manufacturer, who is not slow to take advantage of every opportunity offering. On the other hand there are undoubted signs of Japanese exploitation of Manchuria, to say nothing of China and also Korea. A point which is worth considering in relation to . the influence of Japanese competition on our wool values is the fact that she is almost a law unto herself —as far as “ the East ” is concerned, at least. Situated at the other side of the world, and away from the other great wool manufacturing countries, she is not subject to the same influences as are European nations, which, as it were, are only just across the road from each other, and largely interdependent, reacting to changing conditions of trade almost simultaneously. , It is argued that the Japanese level of wool values is too high in relation to the European one (America can be left out, as for the time being she is fenced in with a very high protective tariff), and that the former country may not be able to maintain it, but on the other hand, her low manufacturing costs give her a tremendous advantage. However strongly we may regard the value of'our being part and portion of the British Empire/we cannot afford jx) miss Japanese competition, even though it be at the expense of Bradford manufacturers.

As an item of interest, it has been recently stated that the lowest tender lodged on behalf of Australian manufacturers for a large supply of blue serge for police uniforms in Shanghai was 3s 6d per yard, this being 15 per cent, below cost. On this occasion the order went to a Continental manufacturer at 2s BJd per yard, although the Australian material was superior.

JOTTINGS. Stock value® indicate _ little change except that wethers are in better demand while fat lambs have declined, more particularly secondary quality, in Otago from rates ruling a fortnight ago. Russia in 1930 bought 115,800,700 dollars worth (£23,100,000) of farm ma•chinery from the United States ot America, including 23,000 tractors and 1376 combines. While digging potatoes on Mr D. Penney’s farm, liirwee, Mr A. H. Smart unearthed a tuber (reports the Christchurch Times) which turned the scale at 51b 13£oz. It is of the White Eelephant variety. A departure from the established custom will shortly be made in connection with the weekly stock sale at Burnside. It is now announced that, commencing from Wednesday, July 1, the market will be opened each week at 9 a.m. with the sale of fat cattle.

It is reported that as an economy mea sure one backbloeks farmer goes to bed as soon as it is dark so as to save the expense of using lights (states the Taranaki News). His neighbour is said to «go one better,” as he regularly stops the clock each night at 6 o’clock so that the works will not wear out so quickly. Prime matured bullocks at Burnside on Wednesday realised values comparable with those ruling at the maximum stage during the month, but young cattle slacked considerably, also moderately-conditioned cows. Good beef, one is inclined to think, has touched bottom.

Although North Island cattle are being offered at Addington, some of the more discriminating butchers of Canterbury have bought a few hundred head of Otago cattle, now on turnips, which must tend to firm up the market in this province. A recent message from the North Island says that exporters have been operating freely in the market for fat wethers and lambs over the past week or two, and prices have held on levels considerably in advance of those expected for this month. At Westfield (Auckland) last week exporters were paying up to 16s for prime quality wethers, and up to s|d a lb for lambs. Mr G. A. Green told the annual meeting of the Auckland Council of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture that it was quite possible to grow a sweet orange

■full of juice in New Zealand between the months of November and March, when there would not be so much competition from the imported fruit. It would be necessary to choose the variety that would be most suitable, and he favoured an Australian type, or the Lue orange, grown in Florida. The overseas export of Tabbits from Tasmania is progressihg well in the north, and it is satisfactory that the quality is good. The Government grader has expressed satisfaction with the conditions under 'which the rabbits are being prepared for export. Over 100 crates, each containing two dozen carcasses, are being packed for export at Launceston daily, and it is hoped that this number will be increased. Every effort is being made to extend the organisation so as to increase supplies.

A New Zealander now resident in Edinburgh has some interesting comments to make concerning New Zealand produce in the Home markets, which should have the effect of convincing producers of the utter futility of exporting anything but the best quality. In a letter* to his brother in Dunedin he writes: “We have had New Zealand lamb several times lately. . I think that your people are very wise in sending it at this time (April) instead of at Christmas, as the carcasses are bigger and better. Not many butchers stock it, only the bigger shops having it, but Cooper and Co., a large multiple firm of grocers, has just taken it up ” Seventy-one remits will be discussed by the thirtieth annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which is to be opened by his Excellency the Governor-General in Wellington on July 7. The remits deal with agriculture, education, finance, fiscal matters, foot-and-mouth disease (protesting against the proposal to lift the embargo on imported like stock, hospital matters, industrial and commercial matters, land, local body affairs, main highways, railways, rural finance, taxation, unemployment, wool, and work and wages. Under the heading, “ Miscellaneous,” is the following Auckland remit:—“ That the catch phrase, ‘Principles, not party,’ be either clearly defined by the Dominion Conference or removed from the literature of the union.”

What is a qualified cow? This was the question asked by Judge Thesiger in an action heard at Hexham County Court on April 24, when Messrs T. and G. W. Pickering, of Lees Farm, Haydon Bridge, sued George Robb, a neighbouring farmer, for damages amounting to £26 10s. It was claimed that a nondescript bull got access to Messrs Pickering’s herd of pedigree Shorthorn cows, the result being that one of the cows was served, and calved a nondescript bull calf which was eventually sold at Hexham for £l4 ss. The plaintiff’s claim was for the difference between the value of the nondescript calf and the estimated value of a pedigree calf, namely, £2l, together with £5 for depreciation in value of the pedigree cow, and keep of defendant’s bull for two days, 10s. The defendant stated the fence belonged to the plaintiffs and was in bad repair, and he was not aware that the bull was on the plaintiff’s land. His Honor assessed the difference between the value of the calves at £l7, and gave judgment for £22 10s.

“ The only difference nowadays between farming on cattle-sick land and on ordiuaary pastures is that the stock on cattlesick country has to be given iron rations at suitable intervals,” said Dr C. J. Reakes, Director of Agriculture, at Hamilton a few days ago. He said the experiments that had been carried out at the Government’s experimental farm at Mamaku had hitherto been largely in the nature of top-dressing the pastures. The department was now to experiment further by harrowing into the soil itself suitable fertilisers containing iron before the land is laid down in pasture. According to Dr Reakes the stock on the paddocks that have been top-dressed regularly during the past 20 years were all healthy. The fertiliser used was superphosphate and basic slag in equal parts. He mentioned that, apart from the actual treatment of the land, the administration of iron preparations such as nitrate of iron and ammonia and very finely powdered carbonate of iron would keep animals on cattle-sick country quite healthy.

The criticism that was directed locally at the exaggerated estimate of Bradford authorities respecting the amount of wool withheld from sale at the New Zealand auctions during the season just closed has not been without effect. The text of the protest raised in Dunedin was telegraphed throughout the Dominion through the Press Association, and as a result a cablegram was forwarded to Bradford by the president of the New Zealand Woolbrokers’ Association denying that large quantities of wool had been held over, and stating that the actual amount held this season, so far as could be ascertained, was about 85,000 bales. It is significant that since the receipt of that cablegram in Yorkshire Bradford should be in a position to report that “ the market is slightly better, with quotations slightly higher.” It is not unreasonable to suppose that the news that the estimate of held-over wool in New Zealand had been ridiculously exaggerated had a beneficial effect on the market. The wool market js very sensitive and reacts quickly to changing conditions and varying reports' from the countries of supply. The fact that so large a quantity of wool as was first thought by Bradford interests was still on hand in New Zealand could not fail to have its effect on the tone of the market. The cablegram giving the true position will serve not only as a denial of the statements made by Bradford correspondents but will also remove the misapprehensions that must have been occasioned by the announcement recently made by the president of the Bradford Wool Federation that the held-over wool in New Zealand amounted to 250,000 bales.

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY CONTROL AND ADMINISTRATION CO-ORDINATION OF FUNCTIONS. NEW PLYMOUTH, June 24. The control of the dairy industry was the subject of the only remit passed by the National Dairy Conference to-day. when it was agreed to appoint a com mittee to-morrow to prepare for the conference a plan for the co-ordination of the present departments of control, and the appointment of an administrative head. The subject was introduced by a remit from the Mangatoki Com-' pany, which sugggested, among other things That the conference,, expresses dissatisfaction with the present methods of the administration of the dairying industry, and considers that the past administration has been in effective, failing to provide a truly authoritative head representative of the industry charged with the responsibility of directing and governing the industry in its internal as well as export affairs. That the effective administration of 1 the industry involves the exercise of authority and a degree of discipline which can be applied only by a board - or organisation elected by the producer and set up as the head of the • industry with powers to guide and control in all matters relating to the internal as well as the export policy. That to give effect to the foregoing proposals the Dairy Produce Board in its present form or reconstituted should be made the head of the industry with extended powers /md charged' with the responsibility for the administration as indicated. That the uncertainties of the policy, particularly in regard to the promotion of quality have revealed weak nesses in the present administration, and have resulted in the loss of goodwill with the buyers and the consumers of New Zealand dairy produce. That in order to further these proposals a committe should be appointed from the conference to bring down in detail an advinistrative plan for the industry, the report of the committee to be dealt with before the conclusion of the conference. .

The discussion of this remit occupied most of the afternoon. Eventually it was withdrawn, and the following substituted motion was adopted by 137 votes to 98:—

“That in view of the grave unrest in the dairy industry and the dissatisfaction with the present methods of administration, the conviction that there is unnecessary and costly overlapping in such administration, a heavy and avoidable loss in the manufacture and an urgent need for effective steps for improvement in the quality of- dairy products, this conference expresses the opinion that the co-ordination of the functions of the existing controlling bodies and the appointment of an administrative head are imperative; and that a representative committee be set up to prepare and submit to the conference a considered plan for the coordination of the present departments and organisations, and the appointment of an administrative head.”

EXTENSION OF ITS BOWERS. NEW PLYMOUTH, June 26. Recommendations for the unification of the control of the dairy industry were submitted to the National Dairy Conference to-day by a committee set up for the purpose. The report of the connpittee was discussed for the greater part of the day, the discussion largely revolving round the methods of election of the Dairy Board. Eventually the report was divided into two parts, and the first part was held over for subsequent consideration. In view of the economic position of the dairying industry, states the report, there is urgent need for immediate action in co-ordinating the various service units of the industry to bring about improvements in the quality of butter and cheese to meet the competition on the overseas markets. The conference will recognise that with the limited time available for deliberation, the committee is unable to do more than outline a comprehensive plan for the co-ordination of the service units without exploring some of the methods of application which might expose weaknesses; but to meet the urgent needs of the situation the committee unanimously suggests some temporary measures for immediate application. i The Dairy Board is to be the admintrative head of the industry. The committee is convinced that the present method of election of the board is not in the best interests of the industry. The suggestion, therefore, is made that the basis of election of the board should be by votes of the dairy company directors who have been elected by the producers electing district committees, who would elect a Dominion Council, and who, in turn, would elect the Dairy Produce Board. This board should be given legislative powers to administer the internal affairs of the industry, to take all disciplinary action to enforce the carrying out of the dairy regulations, 'and the Dairy Division should act in an advisory capacity to that board. The second portion of the report which was adopted states: The Dairy Division should carry out the duties of farm dairy instruction and disciplinary measures in cheese and butter manufacture, the grading of produce in New Zealand, and inspection overseas. To finalise such a plan the committee suggests that it should again meet within nine months and after the fullest investigation bring down a comprehensive report and submit it to the industry for subsequent consideration in conference. To meet the present urgency the committee suggests that the board as at present constituted should be given by Order-in-Council for a period up to August 31, 1932, the necessary powers to administer the internal affairs of the industry, such powers being limited entirely to questions relating to the enforcement of the regulations under the Dairy Industry Act. The temporary measures -advocated are—1. That there should be the utmost co-ordination of service between tho Hamilton and Hawera laboratories and the Dairy Research Institute. 2. That the Dairy Research Institute should be given a free hand in investigating the manufacturing problems of the industry. The director of the Research Institute should attend all meetings of the board in a similar capacity. 3. That the North and South Island Factory Managers’ Association should nominate operative members of their associations to attend the Dairy Board meetings and assist the board in its deliberations on manufacturing problems, one manager being nominated for each meeting, and two, if desired, by the board. In this connection it is further recommended that conversations take place between the Factory Managers’ Association, the Dairy Produce Board, and the officers of the Dairy Research Institute with the idea of giving managers an improved status either by license or by gradual registration under charter; that the director of the Dairy Division should supply the board with regular gradings of individual cheese and butter factories, reports on factories infringing the regulations, and reports from the division’s officers in the United Kingdom; that any necessary action of a disciplinary nature in regard to faults in manufacture and infringements of the regulations should be taken by the Dairy Produce Board.

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED. ’ NEW PLYMOUTH, June 26. The National Dairy Association Com ference was concluded to-night. Amongst the remits passed at the final session was

one advocating compulsory grading of milk, which was adopted by a majority of only four votes. A remit seeking exemption of the dairy industry from the operation of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act ■was amended, and adopted in a form favouring compulsory conciliation and Optional arbitration.