RAISING STOCK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8465, 2 June 1916, Page 7

RAISING STOCK.

AUCKLAND, May 31

Ili.it the decrease in' the stock of the I Dominion must not bo allowed, was a point emphasised by the Prime Minister in tho course of his speech at the opening of the Westfield Freezing Company's now works on Monday. Even with the heavy exports last year there was, ho said, a slight increase in the sheep Hock, but ho doubted whether there would be this year, owing not only to tho heavy exports, but also to the drought in some districts. He wanted to impress upon tho farmers, stock owners, and practical men the fact that they must produce more I stock. At the end of" tho. war there would bo a great many men coming back, and positions would have to be found for them, and many would go on the land. Tho Government would do its best to find suitable land, but tho stock must be forthcoming; for these returned .men. At present there was too. much wastage of stock. The Prime Minister quoted from a return showing that in tho, provincial district of Taranaki. which might, he .said, bo taken as a criterion for the other provinces, 9f1,000 calves were slaughtered last year, and 55,000 were reared. It was a mistake to thus kill off the young stock, and the oroportion in the figures quoted should have been the other way about. Speaking on the same subject la tor, Mr Gill, chairman'of. directors ol' tho. Whrikatano Freezing Works, said that if all the freezing works in New Zealand were to succeed, and the output of stock was to be maintained, the present wastage must stop. Great numbers of young cattle were put into the freezers." including many heifers, that should he kept for breeding purposes.