SHEARING OPERATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1941, Page 7

SHEARING OPERATIONS

SHORTAGE OF MEN. MINISTER’S SUGGESTIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The usual number of shearers will not be available this year, and consequently there is the possibility that shearing operations will not be completed till later than is the case normally. In a statement yesterday the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Barclay, said that though he did not expect the difficulty would be unduly great provided normal weather was experienced, he recommended sheep-farmers to shear their dry sheep as early as possible before the main shearing commenced. He also said that it would be helpful if the sheep-farmers got their main shearing finished before seed and other troubles associated with late shearing developed. The Minister suggested that farmers make mutual arrangements to have sheds filled with dry sheep so that there would be no delay in shearing in the event of wet weather. Another suggestion by the Minister was that local primary production- committees, branches of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, and other appropriate organisations should endeavour in conjunction with the New Zealand Workers’ Union, to arrange rosters of sheds so that shearers would lose as little time as possible in travelling from shed to shed. The Minister added that he felt confident that all concerned would give willing and loyal co-operation.