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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2168, 28 February 1880, Page 2

Tice Auckland Pastoral Association have shown good sense in deciding that the best way to stamp out the threatened cattle plague is to destroy the suspected animals. It is to ho regretted, however, that they have not displayed sullicient promptitude and self-reliance to lake the evil in hand without consulting the Government. They have passed a resolution requesting the Government to trace out and purchase tire cattle recently imported from Australia, in order to destroy them, and thus stamp out the disease, at a cost of £'soo ; and we arc told that the local auctioneer, Mr Bucklaud, in the event of this being done, offers to furnish a list of purchasers and prices given, and when sold at his yards. This dilatory way of doing things is only trifling with an emergency that seriously compromises the position of every cattle-breeder in Hew Zealand. While they are hesitating, negociating, and huckstering, the disease may ho spreading like wildfire. The Auckland Pastoral Association can have no adequate idea of the fearfully contagious nature of pleuro-pncu-nionia, or such a sain as £SOO would not be allowed to interfere with its suppression for an instant. Wo can assure them that £50,000 is a mere bagatelle to the value of the damage that New Zealand stock-owners will realise should such an epidemic once obtain an established footing in (his colony. New Zealand has hitherto been fortunate as regards this virulent form of cattle plague, while the Australian colonics, during the past fifteen or sixteen years, have been subject to periodical visitations. At a time when there is a prospect of stock-raising becoming a most flourishing industry, and when the problem of sending fresh beef to Great Britain has just been satisfactorily solved, it is desirable in the extreme that the prestige of New Zealand for being exempt from the formidable epidemics that are incidental to stock in the other colonies, should be maintained. The fact that no cattle plague exists in New Zealand will tend to give the meat of this colony an additional value in the eyes of the British consumer, and no effort should be spared to preserve this reputation. The Auckland Pastoral Association, through their huckstering, are trilling with the best interests of every pastoral occupier and landowner in the colony.

What shall we do with our oats? This is an important and pressing question for farmer and merchant. In Timani the interests of both are identical, not antagonistic. Circumstances have arisen of a most embarrassing nature. The merchant is unable to 'comply with the demands of the farmer, and the latter, however anxious to turn Ins produce into money, cannot afford to sad’ih cc it. Tor the fact is undeniable that the price ottered for oats at present is absurd. One shilling to fifteen pence per bushel is something ridiculous. Forty pounds weight of oats for the price of a plug of tobacco or a couple of cigars ! The offer seems almost an affront to the producer. Australian telegrams tell us that oats are a drug in the market there : still they are realising 2s to 2s Od per bushel in the Melbourne and Sydney markets, or just exactly double their value in Timaru. This discrepancy is annoying. The figures arc still more astonishing if wc compare notes with the current prices in the London market. For wheat and malting barley, when a glut occurs relief can always be sought by exportation, but oats cannot well bo sent abroad. They are too light and bulky, and the freight would swallow up all the profit. It has been suggested to us that this difficulty may be overcome. The method proposed is to get kilns erected in conjunction with some of our district flour mills, and get the stones for flour-grinding altered, so that kiln dried oats might have their skins rubbed off. They could then be packed closely, like pearl barley, and being dried,they would be proof; against risk of much' damage during a long sea voyage. It is believed that if companies were formed for this purpose our farmers would be able to realise a fair price for their oats after paying all the expenses of preparation and export charges. Wc offer the suggestion for what it is worth, in the hope that, if practicable, some of our merchants will put their shoulders to the wheel. The prosperity of Timaru is closely united with the success of its agricultural population, and anything that will assist the farmer in gelling a fair and remunerative return for his labor and outlay, will materially assist the trade and commerce of this town and district. It is very evident that some plan must be devised to enable the producer to obtain a reasonable rate for his produce instead of starving him into accepting the ruinous rates that arc now offered.