HEAVY INCREASE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1932, Page 6

HEAVY INCREASE

KILLING OF SHEEP DURING YEAR. .REACTION ON THE WOOL MARKET’ WELLINtjiON, October 26. The Director-General of Agriculture (Dr C. J. Reakes), in the annual report of his Department, discusses the general agricultural position of the lost year. ,

The falling-off of the average milkyield per cow was undoubted.y attributable in part to the cold dry spring weather, followed by a dry summer in large areas of the country, and the effect of this upon the ;§upply of feed, states Dr .Reakes. Another factor of importance was the decreased use c f fertiliser top-dressirig' for pa stare.-;, due to the lowered jiurchafing power of farmers':provision of a subsidy on super-phosphate "iffiproved the position, and it i« evident that top-dressing on more extensive and reasonaby adequate scale is being brought about. POSITION OF SHEEP-FARMERS.

“A feature of the year’s operations lay. in the heavy slaughtering of sheep and lambs at meat-freezing works, the figures for file twelve months ending March 31st showing an increase of 942,885 sheep and 491,707 lambs, the proportion of killings to total stocks being higher than usual,” continues the repotrt. 4, A larger ,proportion of old ewes than usual is included in the sheep figures,’ and this is bound to be reflected in the number of breeding-ewes returned in the next sheep returns. (Owing to the seasonal conditions the wool-clip was somewhat lack big in style arid character vfirile selling values reached a very low ilcvel. Tfi’s, with markedly reduced prices for mutton and ■ lamb, has .'-.seriously affected the finances of sheep-farmers. “‘Additional trouble has. been caused by low values 'for sheep and lamb byproducts, and altogether igheep-farmers are having a Very hard and anxious time. The heavy slaughtering already mentioned was doubtless the result of attempts to make as many realisations as po sjble. While the anticipated largo reductions in sheep stocks cannot be re-, garded wi'tJ’i equanimity it may have some compens ding effect in reducing the 'bulk of wool to be marketed a nd thereby helping to harden pr'c.es.

fiATISFAHrORY PRODUCTION. ‘‘Taking the year as a whole, the Dominion has come through very well in the matter of production, considering the adverse weather conditions and the severe financial depression,” states Dr Reakes. “Notwithstanding the 'increased bulk of lamb, mutton, and dairy produce shipped, the policy of the Meat and Dairy Boards in regulating shipments has prevented any periods of badly glutted markets occurring, activit v in getting our butter sold to a greater extent 'in the Midlands -and the North of England being a material'aid in thisfirffherei' is. still ampl p room for an increased distribution u'i on*- 'prodffee in portions of Great Britain,, where hitherto it has not g on e into consumption, and greater, activity is now being shown in seeking markets in other countries, -a, line of action which 'is most desirable.”