WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3093, 12 May 1892, Page 3

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

The above Club met at Cambridge, on Monday, at 7.30 p.m., when there were present: Messrs J. Kisher (chairman). IM. Reynolds, C. Hunter, R. C. Dyer, (!. E. Clark, E. Allen, W. Tucker, IT. Clark, .1. S. Bond, L. Gasin T. Hicks, S. Seddon, C. Roberts, A. Wall-.c-, .las. T.yl-r. J. Forrest, W. Soutar, C. Bull. T. Hartly and sevural visitors. The. minutes of the previous meeting were read and ronfirmed. Thk Dkpai'ltkhs' List. — A list of those in arrears with their subscriptions had been prepared in accordance) with a motion passed at hist m.ietin/:. Tli' chairman said lie had looked over the list and was convinced that, with one or two exceptions, the amounts would be paid upon peisnnal application being made to the members. Th-re were, however, the one or two above referred to, who repudiated being members of the Club, and it would bo better to strike their niiurs orf the list. This was agreed to, the matter being left in the hands of the Executive Committeo to deal with : the Secretary will make personal application for arrears of subscriptions. A Farmkus' Cr.cn for Aratapu.—Mr Maurice Harding, of Hore Jlmv, Aratapu, wrote: " Being desirous of starting an institution in this district soirewhat on the linos of your Club, would yon kindly forward me a copy of your rules, etc." The request will bo complied with. The Club wished tho fanners of Aratapu every success in the undertaking. A Chkkrinu Rkpoht rk Waikato Frozen Motton*—Mr W. J. Caverhill, manager of the Auckland Freezing Works, wrote under dateof 3rd instant: "We have just recipe! account, sales from London for the five, sheep owned by Mr Rokt. Hall, One Tree Hill, which took first prize in the class for freezing sheep at the last Auckland show, and as those sheep were bred and fattened in the Waikato it will be pleasing to your members to read the enclosed satisfactory report on them. The brokers report referred to is as follows: "Tho five sheep were all that could be desired, being level, well covered without being wastefully fatfleshy without beingcnmbrously large; and arrived (as for that matter did the whole shipment) in a perfect condition." These sheep weighed 701b-8 each and w*re sold at Jsd per lb., Mr Hall netting about 20s per sheep off the shears which must be considered eminently satisfactory. We may also mention that 1000 wethers, brought from Mr Bailey of 'the Auckland Agricultural Company, all with more or less of the down rross in them, were sold at from -lid to -l£d per lb, and the report on them was: "This consignment comprised sheep of excellent quality, and they met with a ready sale." The above losults clearly show that if the proper breed of sheep is kept in your district, mutton can be produced equal to any part of the world, and now that mutton is such an important part of our export, it should be a matter of serious consideration to farmers as to whether the Lincoln sheep, now so generally favoured in Waikato on account of the heavy clip, is the mnst profitable to keep. As a freezing sheep, the Lincoln is certainly not suitable. This opinion is not only our own, but is fully borne out by letters to the May number of the New Zealand Farmer from Messrs John Grigg, Threlkeld and others, which are very interesting and instructive. It will be admitted by all that more Down •heep can be carried to the acre than Lincolns, and when the Down sheep mature so early, and the mutton is of such good quality as Mr Ha']'?, it is open to question whether the wool is such an important factor after all. When the writer has had the pleasure of meeting the members of your Club, he has always advocated crossing with one or other of the Down sheep to improve the quality of the mutton, and now that the competition from the River l J late and Australia—where sheep can be produced at a minimum cost —is increasing so rapidly, this colony will have to rely on the quality of its mutton to obtain a payable price. We propose offering a prize at your association's show, for freezing sheep, particulars of which will be furnished to yon shortly." (The broker's report was enclosed). —The Chairman said they were obliged to Mr Caverhill for his communication. The report was certainly a "feather in the cap" for Waikato.—Mr Jurrest said it was remarkable that in the face of this report Mr Bailey was getting rid of his Downs and was going in for Lincoln?.—Mr R. Reynolds thought the explanation easy. Mr Bailey sold the sheep he had on the station, but when it came to buying, he had to purchase as he was told. He (the speaker) quite agreed with the letter, and the farmers would have to decide which it was to be—wool or mutton. If mutton, then they mnst go in for quality, for they could not touch Australia as to quantity. Tho meat must be nicely u.ixed—not greasy fat carcases ; and for export the farmer must go in for tho sheep which will produce tho most per lb in the London market.—The Chairman said they must produce an article that would sell, and to do that they must provide what suited their customers. —Mr Forrest found there was always someone who preached revolutionary doctrines about most matters, and it appeared sheep breeding was now to have its turn. His opinion was that the ejtra size of Lincolns with the large return from the wool, would more than compensate for the enhanced price given for the smaller Down breeds, —Mi_Clarke said the English farmers were very conservative, but even they had to bow to public taste. A friend of his who had kept a Lincoln stud flock for a quarter of a century, as had his father before him, had given it up and gone in for Snuthdowns, simply because of the quality of the mutton. There was no question about the Down cross beinf; better than the Lincoln; for, a little time since he killed a crossbred for home consumption, and ever since that time his family grumbled at the. Lincoln mutton. They must bred to suit the home market, but at the Bame time he would not advise every one to do it; each farmer must go in for what suits his farm.— The subject thus dropped.

Co-opkkation v. Auckland Butchers.— The following letter had been received by the Chairman from Reginald Beaumont and Co.. accountants, of Auckland, under date of Saturday hut:—Dear Sir,—We beg to direct the attention of your Society to the late rise in the price of meat in Auckland, which has caused the meat consumers to consider the advisability of forming a co-operative butchery in this city. While admitting that the butchers have scarcely held their own during the past few months, meat consumers resent the extortionate! demands made by the butchers now; especially when they take int> consideration the fact that fat stock has if anything decreased in price ; caused no doubt by the two largest butchering firms having obtained a monopoly of the whole of the trade in Auckland ; and having done so, they apparently intend to bleed both the meat producers and consumers. Meat consumers would not object to paying a littlo more than formerly for their meat, if they were satisfied that the graziers would reap the benefi''-; but they strongly object to allowing the butchers to make exorbitant profits out of them. A public meeting of meat consumers was held on Thursday evening last (see Herald and Star of Friday's date), to which butchers were admitted, and although the butchers did their best to throw cold water on the proposal, and a good deal of plain talk was indulged in on both sides, it was almost unanimously decided that a co-operative butchery should be formed. There will be a further meeting on Monday next, the 19th inst., to consiier a proposal for forming an association, when it is expected all the largest meat consumers will attend. Unless the price of meat is reduced the probabilities are that a co-operative butichery will be in working order in a month from date. If an association is formed no doubt the butchers will corner the Auckland live stock market, so that it may bo closed againsb us. So as to be prepared for such an emergency we beg to submit a proposal for your Society's consideration, namely :— That the association purchaso stock from graziers by dead or live weight, as may be dceided upon. Of course if started, tlio co-operative butchery will be conducted on a strictly cash basis—both buying and selling. Should we be successful in forming an association, your society will probably hear more from us."—The Chairman slid the more competition there was in Auckland the better. He was sure the farmers of Waikato would wish success to the undertaking, for it was the first tune anyone had offered to purchase by either live or dead weight for cash.—Mr Forrest thought the promoters should bo thanked, and told they need not fear the Auckland market being cornered as long as they were prepared to buy beef in the paddocks for cash; but he facetiously added: "They wusn't a;.k us to take any shares. Most of ns have had enough of co-operation in that line." —The letter was received. Smut in' Chain-.—Messrs W. Sontcr and

Co., of Cambridge, wrote: "We h:ive recently received from the United States of America Department of Agriculture a bulletin which thpy have just issued on the best Lnown i-r-ventutivM for smut in grain, a copy of which wa have pleaiure iii

handing ymi herewith. We may say tli.it wo have been in communication with them regarding their experiments on the best varieties of wheat to resist the attacks of ru*t, but have not yet received their reply." —The Chairman "aid it was a most important and useful paper, and would prove of great interest to the farmers of Waikato, who unhappily had great cause to study the subject. He trusted the proprietor of Tiik Waikato Times would assist them by publishing it in his Supplement; they could then discuss the matter at the next meeting.—Our representative undertook to see that the paper is published, saying the proprietor of the paper was at all times pleased to give publicity to anything that would prove beneficial to the farming community.—Messrs S niter were thanked for the trouble they had taken in supplying the paper. Frozen Meat.—Mr Mead way, of Paterangi, forwarded Messrs Fitter and Sons circular for March ro the frozen meat trade. —Mr Meadway was thanked for keeping the club so well ported up in this matter. We are compelled to hold over the remainder of our report.