LIGHTER LAMBS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20026, 26 August 1939, Page 11

LIGHTER LAMBS

REDUCING SHEEP WEIGHTS

AFTERMATH OF QUOTA WAIROA PROPOSALS GISBORNE DISCUSS lON Proposals urging the export of lighter lambs and sheep were submitted to a meeting of the Poverty ■Bay provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday afternoon in a letter from Mr. T. Le C. Powdrell, Wairoa, a Gisborne district representative on the Meat Board's electoral committee, before which Mr. Powdrell proposed to place his scheme. The Farmers’ Union executive supported the greater part of Mr, Powdreli’s plan.

“In view of the fact that 'the Gisborne sheep district produces and freezes a very heavy kill of sheep, compared with most other districts, and also that we freeze a light lamb at 301 b. to 321 b. average, in comparison with the New Zealand average of 331 b. and the South Island average of 351 b., we are likely to become the victims of the over-production of heavyweight, sheep and lambs which are at present holding up our shipment of mutton,” Mr. Powdrell stated. Large Stored Stocks

“When the restrictions were imposed, the Wairoa works had in store 30,000 carcases of mutton; no doubt Kaiti and Tokomaru Bay are both holding large quantities of mutton. Some of the very large works in New Zealand are killing almost all lambs and do not hold, perhaps, more than 20,000 carcases of mutton. These works have all produced what might be termed a large number of overweight lamlbs, and in the coming season may do so again, thus causing a continuation of the present serious position. This must be detrimental to the sales of all fat and store stock on this coast.

The remit drawn up by Mr Powdrell was as follows:—

“In view of the fact that restrictions are now imposed upon last season's kill of all mutton carcases, brought about by excess weight exceeding the Ottawa agreement, it be a recommendation to the Meat Board to endeavour to make .reductions and provision in the following manner:— Remit to Board “1. Necks of all beef to be removed before export. “2. AH lamb -in store, over 351 b. average, be classed as wethers for shipment purposes. “3. That mutton shipments from each works be allotted for shipment on a percentage basis of the particular works’ kill, and shipped out in that order of rotation ‘ (not numerically). “4. That no new season’s mutton be shipped until all the present season’s kill of mutton has been dealt with. “5. That it be a recommendation to the board to check and discourage the freezing of all overweight sheep and lambs until the position becomes normal. “6. That licenses be withheld from those works that do not at least make provision for 50 per cent storage of their annual kill.” The executive took no action in regard to Nos. 1 and 2, but supported the remainder.