THE Pukekohe & Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1916 THE SHORTAGE OF LIVE STOCK.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 183, 16 June 1916, Page 2

THE Pukekohe & Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1916 THE SHORTAGE OF LIVE STOCK.

" lYc nollano extenuate, nor id down nuaht in malice."

The Prime Minister sounded a much needed warning note when, in his speech at the opening of the new Westheld Freezing Works, lie drew attention to the danger we were in of suffering from an acute shortage of cattle. It has for some time been obvious that such would be the case, and unless farmers take 3teps to obviate it they are likely before loDg to be face to face with a very serious position. The reason for our decreasing herds, or perhaps it would be better to say for our herds not increasing ho rapidly as the land is being made to carry them, are two. First the slaughter of calves, which, particularly in cheese-producing districts, is undoubtedly the chief factor. Mr Massey gave as the Taranaki figures, which show that in that Province out of 145,000 calves born last season 00,000 had been killed, leaving only •55,000 to be reared. Taranaki is of course an extreme case, and its per centage cannot be fairly applied to the rest of New Zealand, but we shall probably be safe in saying that throughout the remainder of the country one third of the calves born are killed. The other reason is that so many female cattle have been frozen and exported, particularly since the war began.

An unfortunate feature of the business is that no one can say exactly to what extent the shortage exists. The latest information we have as to the number of our cattle is nearly hve years old, dating from the last ([uimjuenial census. Up to about seven years ago the information was annually supplied by the agricultural statistic returns,, but for some incomprehensible reason the .Department ceased to collect particulars of cattle, though still requiring returns of sheep. The Herald falls into the error of supposing that the farmers' income-tax returns will supply the ligures, but is evidently uot aware that only the larger farmers are required to make returns. Unless the Government collects the information, which it could easily do through the post, we sLall know nothing about the position till tho census returns are collated say about tho middle of next summer--too late to give a load to farmers as to whether it will be wise or otherwise to rear their calves m the coming season. Young stock have not been particularly dear during this autumn, chiefly, wo think, owing to tho fear that a hard u nitei and shortage of leed would follow tho long dry spell we have experienced. But the markets are shortening and the demand increasing, and we do not think we are risking much by predicting that we shall shortly see calves and yearlings bringing unprecedented prices, and that the demand will continue lor sonic years to come, especially in tho Auckland Province, where the stock-carrying capacity is increasing at a much more rapid rate than elsewhere. We do not believe that any farmer no.'d kill his calves because uf tho fear that it wilt not be profitable to rear them.