ENGLISH STUD SHEEP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1940, Page 9

ENGLISH STUD SHEEP

SAFE KEEPING DURING WARPLAN TO BRING THEM TO DOMINION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 11. A proposal to enable English stud sheep breeders to send their best blood to New Zealand for safe keeping during the war was set on foot by Mr R. C. Todhunter at a meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association executive. Mr Todhunter said other countries had lost their fine stud stock altogether. “Take Spain,” he said. “They were famous once for Merinos; and what about Denmark and Holland? Where are all their stock? It's going to be a huge job to restock the world after the war. England is the world’s greatest stud farm, and her stud stock is in danger.” Mr Todhunter said that while the demand now was for quantity first, after the war it would be for quality again. It would’ benefit New Zealand to graze stock free of charge, keep up or improve the standard of its own stock and then return the sheep to their owners. The question of sterling exchange would not come up as there would be no money changing hands. The only question would be for the British Government to arrange shipping. Mr T. A. *Stevens said that the British Government was alive to the dangers and was removing stud stock to safe places. There was the Channel Islands tragedy to serve as a lesson, he said. Jersey cattle were now in German hands and probably in their stomachs. “It involves the lifting of the embargo,” said Mr E. S. Taylor (president). Mr Todhunter said that every precaution could be taken. He had forgotten to mention “foot and mouth.” yis idea was that the appropriate Greed society would look after the stock of each breed. On his motion it was decided to draft a cable and suggest to the Prime Minister that he send it to the British ■- Government if he saw fit, the cable to ■ contain the conditions suggested.