MEN FOR SHEARING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 39, 9 November 1918, Page 3

MEN FOR SHEARING

Siv,—The letter appoaring in your' issue of Aovembe'r 5 over tlie linme of John Boustead ro releasing men from camp for rearing will bo generally regarded , as hitting the nail- squarely ujpon the head. So far this season'eheanng. has been delayed fully three weeks in the North Island on account of the inclemency of the weather. Taking this and the labour shortage into consideration, it means that s'hearing will be prolonged at least a month later than usual. As your correspondent points out, this will run a considerable amount of the shearing into the biddi-biddi, which commences to stick about the end of the month. Since a considerable portion of the North Island is addicted' to this weed, and as it causes a loss of anything up to sixpence a pound to an affected clip, it can easily be seen that tfho country is likely to loose tens of thousands of -pounds in reduced wool values. This correspondent' has only, estimated half the loss accruing from a protracted shearing, for until the sheep work is, over there will not be nearly enough labour available to "ather in the harvest. Last year the bulk of the dry fodder crops were spoilt on account of the wet season and shortage of labour. The direct result was that with tne severity of the winter and no winter foddeiv the Dominion suffered the heaviest loss in dairy stock ever experienced. Unless precautions are taken ■we have no guarantee that next wirtor will not he a repetition of the last. The only safeguard is to make hay while the sun shines, and gather in every available acre. The only possible way to do this is to release a few thousnnd men from camp for a few weeks, of course without pay. Their Telease from camp would have to he applied for by their prospective employers through tlie local trustees of tlie National Efficiency Board. From personal observations these boards of district trustees have already done good work,' and could be depended upon to carry out the work entrusted to them in a fair and impartial' manner.—l am. etc., CHARLES CROSS. Alfredton, November 5, 1918. ,