Royal Commission On Sheep Farming Visits Wakatipu Area

Lake County Mail, Issue 45, 14 April 1948, Page 6

Royal Commission On Sheep Farming Visits Wakatipu Area

The Royal Commission on the Sheep Farming Industry continued its sittings at Queenstown last Wednesday. Deputising for the chairman of the Lake County Council, Mr D. R. Rowe welcomed the commission to the district. The chairman, Mr R. N. White replied. High country run-holders gave evidence of their problems which were numerous. Attention was drawn to the severe climatic conditions which prevailed, resulting in an abnormal death rate and weakening condition of ewes. Difficulties of restocking, detioration caused through rabbits, erosion due to gold mining, summer fire menace and the alarming spread of noxious growth which was gaining ascendancy in pasture lands were among the problems presented. LABOUR SHORTAGE

Mention was made of the high rating and of the acute labour shortage.

The competition for labour in towns and cities, shorter hours, more holidays, better wages and congenial environment had attracted youths away from the high country farms, it was claimed. Shepherds with high country experience are becoming fewer and because of this, existing facilities are being neglected. One runholder made many useful suggestions which included the encouragement of breeding, research to combat briar and tutu, etc., the continuation of the destruction of goats and deer, immigration of high country shepherds, and a national eradication of rabbits.

Mr W. P. Saunders, president of the Wakatipu Eabbit Board, gave a resume of the board’s activities, which, he claimed, were hampered by the demand for higher wages, higher costs and the withdrawal of the employment subsidy.