17

H.—29

Wool. As was anticipated after suoli a good winter, the season's clip as a whole turned out to be in excellent condition. A few of the late-shorn clips —delayed through prolonged spells of wet weather— were heavy in condition and seedy, consequently the price was affected. X further improvement in the manner in which the wool has been skirted and classed was manifest when the wool was opened up for buyers' inspection, and growers are no doubt realizing the advantage of presenting their wool in a manner best calculated to bring them the highest price ruling for the particular class in question. No opportunity has been lost by the Wool Mr. Cook, in stressing the advantage to be gained by a good skirting and classing, and it is gratifying to note that it is meeting with such success. Much remains to be done in order to present clips showing an even quality of wool by improved methods of breeding, and more strict attention to culling and mating is required. The Department's demonstration carried out on the Wallaceville Laboratory farm flock, showing the rapid improvement that can be effected in a line of inferior ewes by a system of mating and careful culling to eliminate defects, is a valuable object-lesson to all wool-growers, but particularly to small growers, as it is in the small flocks that the variations and defects are most pronounced. The quality of wool offered for sale at the local sales was again a marked feature of the 1924-25 season, and an indication of the growing popularity of the Dominion sales. The wool offered for sale locally is shown as 517,572 bales, of which 450,587 were sold. The high reserves put on by some growers were responsible for a considerable quantity of the wool offered being passed and resubmitted at subsequent sales or held for shipping overseas. The opening sales were conspicuous for high prices, which were not maintained at subsequent offerings, and as a consequence disappointment was freely exhibited, but the position was nevertheless quite a satisfactory one when compared with the previous year's figures, and the average price realized is estimated to be slightly above 19d. per pound over the season, as compared with 16d. for the previous year. The prospects for the 1925-26 season are good, as, owing to good autumn rains, feed is abundant, and sheep should enter on the winter in good condition to go through it well. The services of the Wool Instructor are in great demand for lectures, demonstrations of classing, &c., and good work is undoubtedly attending the instruction given. Swine Husbandry. The pork and bacon industry did not show very much advance on the previous year so far as exports were concerned, but the position has been fully maintained, and, as is shown in the statistics, the number of swine has increased slightly over the previous year. A considerable interest is manifest in this industry, and provided a payable export trade can be assured the business will expand. As has been previously pointed out, a too rapid expansion of this business before a sure footing has been obtained should be avoided, but an excellent opportunity appears to present itself of furthering the export on a steadily increasing and substantial basis, and no opportunity should be lost of getting on to right lines of breeding, feeding, and management, with a view to producing as economically as can be and marketing a suitable carcase. The Instructor in Swine Husbandry has been kept busy during the year answering and attending to inquirers, delivering lectures, and generally assisting growers. The export of pork, hams, and bacon for the year amounted to 4,511,990 lb., of a value of £151,270. Rabbit Nuisance. The administration of the "Rabbit Nuisance Act has been carried on with considerable energy throughout the year, but as time goes on the difficulties do not diminish. In the North Island, where the commercial aspect does not obtrude itself, the chief difficulty to contend with is the natural elusiveness of the rabbit to respond to the various devices employed for its destruction, consequently we know exactly what we are up against; but unfortunately this is not so in the South, particularly in Otago-Southland districts. The position of the pest in the North Island is generally satisfactory, and excellent work is being performed, both individually and collectively, by settlers and Boards respectively. Rabbits in the North Auckland district, where they have been present for some years, but not numerous, now show a tendency to extend into clean country, and will require close attention. As regards the position in the South Island, Canterbury shows a considerable diminution in the pest, brought about by constant vigilance during the summer months ; but in Southland, and South Otago in particular, rabbits showed up during the summer in increased numbers. Favourable seasonal conditions contributed to this increase, but inaction on th ; e part of settlers following the winter operations is the chief reason for the unsatisfactory condition of the pest. The season was a good one for work had owners been desirous of carrying out continuous and combined action, but, while all are not apathetic, a number, unfortunately, are. During the winter, when rabbit-skins command a high price, rabbits are killed in very large numbers without any pressure on the part of the Department; but, unfortunately, in a large number of cases the destruction of the pest is discontinued immediately the winter operations are over, consequently the breeding propensities of the rabbit are responsible for a further considerable increase, which if neglected quickly assumes large dimensions. When the provisions of the Rabbit Nuisance Act pertaining to the formation of Rabbit Boards were originally drafted a very excellent principle was inserted, but a serious weakness lay in the fact that the provisions were not wide enough to allow of small workable areas as Rabbit Board districts being formed under its provisions, and until the amendments of 1918 removed this disability no ratepayers' Boards were in existence. On the passing of the amendment the advocacy of the formation of such Boards immediately became a part of the policy of the Department, and as a result thirty-two Boards have since been constituted, and practically all those in the North Island afford

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