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Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 15, 13 October 1943, Page 4

When the questions of making sheepfarmers carry the entire cost of stabilizing the prices of wool for domestic consumption, and of paying them in the form of bonds a percentage of the increased price granted by the British Government were being hotly discussed, stress was laid on the risks to which the woolgrower was exposed. It was contended that a very hard winter, or adverse conditions during lambing, would be liable to impose crippling losses. It Ims not been necessary to wait long for cosily confirmation of this view. It is expected that the loss of lambs in Canterbury alone this season, owing to the cold, wet weather that has prevailed, will average about 20 per cent. That is a deadweight loss to the producer, and as some millions of lambs are bred each year in Canterbury, the loss of one-lifth represents a very large sum. And it seems inevitable that the men farming back-country runs will be the. hardest hit. It can safely be said that if their lambing losses, when lin-flly ascertained, are anywhere near 20 per cent., then all and more of the advantage derived from the increased wool prices last season has completely disappeared. Losses have been heavy in other districts also, and wherever sustained they fall on the men whom the Government unjustly made meet the cost of stabilizing domestic wool prices last season. The possibilities which the Govinnunt so lightly swept aside have happened and (he losses incurred m the lambing season have more than cancelled out any benefits derived from higher prices on the wool exported.