POVERTY BAY FARMERS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1931, Page 7

POVERTY BAY FARMERS

DROUGHT AND LOW PRICES

SHEEP GIVEN AWAY. Drought conditions, prevailing at Gisborne for several months, have suffered no change and the farmer, having to contend with .this as well as with low prices, will long remember the present season. Some of the high back-country districts have not experienced a dry season, but the rich Hats, comprising about 80,000 acres, their adjoining hills, and the extensive coastal pastoral areas, are as bare as a hone. In all the yardings at the Gisborne stock sales a large proportion of the sheep has shown the effects of the drought, both by lack of condition and th e harsh appearance of the wool. It is recognised that most of it he crops are a failure, and some of the maize is being fed to the cows. Much of this crop had to be sown a second time, ns the first sowing was * a failure. That which was established with th e first sowing may give returns' but even they, while looking well at a distance, are on close inspection, lacking the usual luxuriant growth. Dairying in the drought area is now negligible, and ninny of the cows have been kept going by the topping of willows, The email farmer on the flats usually relies on early lambs to give him an appreciable income, but, having po feed, has been unable to stock up with breeding ewes. There bps beep a' good deal of export in both sheep and cattle, by road, to the Waikato, and this is still in evidence. It is an endeavour to realise something better la values than the local sales can give, but the stock sent on these trips has not always been the best, and a good deal ol reliance seems to be placed on 4heir improving in condition on the journey.

The Addington market, contrary to the custom of recent years, has <rencrally been left alone. It was anticipated that, with tile lessened exodu-s of sheep from the district, the local sales would show heavier yardings than ustipl, hut th e contrary lias been tin' case. The two largest sales have yarded 17,000 and 14,000 sheep, sub sequent sales running from 7,000 to 8,000, while in a normal season several sales yard from 20,000 to 25,000. It is difficult to state with certainty the reason for this, but the opinion of those who move amongst stock seems 4o be that the nheep are being held on t,ho stations, because, owing to their lack of condition, it would hardly be profitable, at the ruling prices, to pay drovers’ fees to take them to mar. ket, and also because n break in the weather would mean better prices.

Reports ar 0 heard of stock being' slaughtered in some places a a the easiest way of getting rid of them, hiR. your correspondent has, on inquiry, been unable to confirm this. Tiler 0 have, however, been instances where sheep have been given away, FREEZING works rosy. The freezing works, with a hoard of over CO butchers, are going at fill! pressure, and there is difficulty in securing dates without delay. The destruction of the Wairoa works by fire has resulted in sheep from that district coining to the Gisborne works, and approximately 20,000 have already gone into the chambers. These sheep averago about a fortnight on tho road, and as that means considerable loss in condition, tbe pickers are only taking really prime quality. Judging on the condition of these on arrival at Gisborne, which is deeidedlv good, they must limy been a credit to their district when they were drafted there. OLD EWES id A POUND. The problem of what to do with the old ewe, with failing mouth and not much condition, that is almost valueless to-day, has been .to a large extent solved by the freezing works taking them for canning. Th e price paid is id a pound, which relieves the owner of liis burden and places a few pence in his pocket. Jt has been stated tlm.t the works are doing a great service to the country in getting rid of this undesirable stock, but it is probably true that a greater number than usual of low-mouthed ewes will go to the ram this vea r in an endeavour to get a good return in the future from a sheep with practically no present value. The result may be that next season will show an increased number of the unprofitable potter. The rainfall in Gisborne for the last throe months totalled 1.62 inches, the previous season’s record for the same time being 10.66 inches. Almost all vegetables on sale for many weeks have boon imported from outside districts. Apple crops aiy below standard, and citrus trees are, in many cases, wilting and shedding their leaves.