KING COUNTRY FARMING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 382, 16 June 1928, Page 27

KING COUNTRY FARMING

PASTURES IN GOOD HEART HIGH PRICES FOR STOCK (From. Our Ovm CorrespondentJ TAUMARUNUI, Friday. Farming in the Central King Country is likely to receive considerable impetus as the direct result of a large and representative meeting of farmers and others interested, held at Taumarunui for the purpose of considering the formation of a Rural Credit Association. The scheme was outlined by Mr. !. J. Moore, district supervisor of the Intermediate Rural Credits Board, who prefaced his remarks by explaining that the board had been set up for the purpose of assisting farmers by lending them money at a cheap rate. Mr. G. A. Stanton, chairman of the Kaitieke Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, who was in the chair, supplemented Mr. Moore’s words, and stated that the Rural Credits Act would enable farmers to obtain money cheaper than from any other source. The expense of forming an association was small, and he moved that a Taumarunui Association be formed. The motion was seconded by Mr. .1. Caird, and it was unanimously decided to proceed -with the suggestion. The Matiere branch of the Farmers’ Union is pressing the Public Works Department to deal with the early completion of the trucking yards at the Matiere station, as stock sent away face a great disadvantage at outside sales through being trucked in a dirty condition in the muddy yards. Points specially mentioned are the metalling of the trucking yards, and the provision of a leading race. At the last meeting of the Matiere branch of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. J. Jebb fully explained the working of the Rural Credits Act, and expressed the opinion that in its present form it was unsuitable for the district, but worth the settlers’ attention as being a step nearer the goal of short-dated credit at a reasonable rate.

Recently the Taumarunui Chamber of Commerce wrote suggesting to the Minister of Internal Affairs that opossums might be liberated in the bushland in the Rangitoto and Awakino to Kawhia district. A reply has been received by the chamber to the effect that the Government has decided not to authorise either the introduction- or liberation of opossums in any further areas, and in view of this the request could not be granted. Considerable movements of stock have been taking place in this district recently, and the demand by outside buyers for stock reared in the Central King Country keeps up remarkably. Both sheep and cattle are in demand, and prices have reached very high levels. The stock is, in the majority of cases, in excellent condition. Among late consignments was one of 18 trucks of Black Polls railed from the Taumarunui area to Palmerston North. The line, which was a credit to the district, came off the property of Messrs. Gibbons Bros., at Kirikau, Wanganui River. There is a remarkable growth of winter feed all over the district, and the benefit of this is noticeable in the great condition of the animals. With the easing of manure costs, very great quantities of fertiliser have been brought into the majority of the agricultural areas, and this, as well as the very mild season helps to account for the abundance of winter feed. This is now so well established in most localities, that even if heavy frosts are experienced during the next few weeks no great harm will result, and the farms will go forward into the spring well supplied with sustenance for the stock they are being asked to carry.