“UNSATISFACTORY YEAR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1938, Page 7

“UNSATISFACTORY YEAR”

POSITION OF DOMINION WOOL GROWERS. LOW PRICES AND INCREASED COSTS. “For the sheep farmer the past year has been an unsatisfactory and disappointing one throughout New Zealand and especially in the Wairarapa, Hawke’s Eay and Poverty Bay districts,” observed the president, Mr P. R. Welch at yesterday’s meeting of the Masterton A. and P. Association. Wool clips generally, he added, were down in weight, which combined with a recession in prices, plus an increase in handling costs, resulted in the net returns showing a substantial reduction on the previous year.

The lambing season opened well, but a long spell of dry, hot weather caused a falling off in condition. That was fairly general. The partial failure of root crops as the result of the ravages of the white butterfly and diamond back moth caused heavy killings in January and February, while the average weights were well down. Fortunately the district was fairly free from facial eczema, only a few isolated cases being reported. In sympathy with the sheep man, the dairy farmer experienced decreased butterfat yields, due to the climatic conditions. In spite of the spirited controversies over the guaranteed price and compensatory prices—which were political matters and were good, bad or indifferent according to the political tint of ones spectacles —he thought the dairy farmers were receiving a reasonably remunerative return. Passing on to refer to the export fat lamb competition, Mr Welch said it was noteworthy that the Wairarapa had again won the Meat Board’s shield for the best North Island district display. Congratulations were due to the Wairarapa Training Farm and the manager, Mr N. Blatchford, on winning the first prize for the best individual pen and to the Estate of R. Cooper for filling third place. “If we wish to keep ahead,” he added, “it is essential that we maintain the high standard of stock. We have the land and the stock and can produce something as could as anywhere else in New Zealand.”