TROUBLE AHEAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1938, Page 6

TROUBLE AHEAD

FORECAST BY FARMERS’ UNION PRESIDENT POSITION OF AVERAGE SHEEP FARMER. DIFFICULTIES OF PAST WINTER. “I think I can state without being extreme that the average sheep owner in this province will be very fortunate if he makes ends meet at the end of this season.'’ was a statement contained in a report submitted to yesterday’s meeting of the Masterton branch of the Farmers' Union, by the Provincial President. Mr Hugh Morrison. The report continued: —“With the mortality in sheep last winter, especially hoggets, mortality in lambing, loss in weight and quality of wool, all due to seasonal climatic conditions, the loss of practically all root crops due to the white butterfly and the diamond back moth, adding to this the fall in wool and lamb prices, and the steadily mounting costs, proves that my opening statement is founded on a solid basis of actual occurrences, and the result must ultimately be felt and reflected right throughout the cOmmunity. “Referring to the fat lamb trade, although the price per lb has been remunerative and the export numbers will be well maintained this year, owing to lighter weights, there will be a considerable drop in the total revenue compared with past seasons. It is fortunate that the ideal lamb should be 28 to 321bs, because this was the average weight of this year’s lambs, but in spite of this, the 34 to 361 b lamb shows the best net return to the grower. The value of the wool, pelt and bye product also showed a decline coupled with the corresponding loss of weight of these extras. Added to this there is the increased cost of slaughtering, freezing, and wharf charges, and also the ewes were purchased last year at prices considerably in excess of those ruling this year. Taking into consideration all' these factors it is obvious that the net returns from lambs have fallen very far below that of last year, and this again reflects on the hill farmer on second class country, who realises correspondingly less for his ewes which he sells to the fat lamb grower. “It is a peculiar repetition of history that a year of low prices for wool encourages Australia and other countries to a greater fat lamb production and the tendency is then to create overproduction in the fat lamb trade, increased dairy production usually follows in its train also. New Zealand still holds pride of place in the fat lamb trade, and it will be more necessary than ever to keep our quality up to standard in circumstances which lend towards increased competition.”