SHEEP POPULATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 256, 10 August 1933, Page 8

SHEEP POPULATION.

DECLINE CAUSES CONCERN. CONDITIONS OF INDUSTRY. (Special to the " Guardian.") CHRISTCHURCH, This .Day. Concern at the serious decline in New Zealand's sheep population was expressed by Ml* E. Hay, president of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union, at the Annual meeting of the union last night. "We are stilJ working for the abolition of the iaiid tax, for which to-day there is not the very slightest justification." said Mr Hay. "No landowner can afford to pay land tax. I venture to say that no landowner can show a profit to-day from his land even if it be free of mortgage, therefore all land tax in paid out of losses, or profits, if" any, from other sources. This is absolutely inequitable, and our inability to continue payment from revenue is demonstrated by the continued decline in the number of sheep in the Dunrmfon, which has taken place at the rate of roughly one million for each year for tho last three years, and which is very disquieting. It is in may opinion one of the results of the prevailing depressed conditions in our industry, and indicates in some measure the extent to which it has been found neowssary to turn capital stocks into money in order to meet current liabilities." When it was remembered that compared with ten years ago, lamb export had nearly doubled, being 8% millions for this year, as against 43 millions approximately in 1924, while the total sheep carried had only increased by 17 per cent., it must be obvious that the industry was continuing in operation only by drawing far too heavily On its capital resources. "I foci I need not stress the need for checking this serious decline in the numbers of our sheep, both in the interests of the sheepowning industry as well as in that of the national welfare," Mr Hay concluded. "I can only express the hope that during the coming, season tbe improved prospects for wool may continue and that a higher price level on our world market may make it possible to conserve our remaining stocks and bring their numbers back to those of 1930."