THE LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 20

THE LAND.

» FARMING IN THE KING COUNTRY WOOL PRODUCTION. SEASON'S SATISFACTORY CLIP. PROSPECTS AHEAD. --•(By "ANCHORITE.") Although the shearing of flock sheep is still in active operation throughout this territory, much of the earlier shorn wool was disposed of nt the wool sales in Auckland last week. The prices received there were generally in keeping with the anticipations of our sheepfarmers, who are perfectly satisfied that if they can average one shilling per lb. year in and year out, the growing of wool is probably the most profitable calling in this Dominion to-day. This average price was reached, if not exceeded, at last week's sales, and a pleasing feature of the clip was the decided improvement in the general "pet up," especially in the wools from this region. Wool buyers and brokers considered that the clin was the most attractive as yet offered this season in the Dominion. The writer has ever advised, and advocated, that the smaller wool-growers should send in their clips to the wool stores to be classed by the brokers' experts. That this has been done to a very great extent this season is attributable to the satisfactory improvement reached, and commented on by buyers from all parts of the world, who attended Inst week's sales. The prices received for well-graded crutchings, bellies, locks and pieces were in advance of what most of the sheepmen expected, and the same remark applies to all "cotted" and "dingy" wools send forward. j It is generally felt that now tliat wool values are firmly stabilised., that a big incentive has been given to the woolgrowing industry in the King Country. It is, moreover, quite certain that no other region in our Dominion offers ' brighter prospects to the prospective sheep farmer than the King Country. Land can be acquired here to-day (which can be classed as two-sheep country) suitable for all classes of sheep, cheaper than anywhere else within the writer's knowledge. The climatic conditions of this land is ideal for sheep-raising. The country is bountifully provided by nature with natural shelter, ■ almost everywhere, and is probably blessed with the most abundant and pure-run-ning waters in the whole world. To the young man with moderate capital, who has the energy and ambition to eventually become a squatter, the smiling, romantic and picturesque King Country's vast virgin areas of fertile hills and valleys is calling. Prospects Ahead. The outlook for sheep-farmers for many years ahead is at present distinctly encouraging, and one of which pastoralists could Avell take greater advantage, and, while materially benefiting themselves, place New Zealand in the limelight of greater prosperity. . During the past generation the population of the globe has increased by several hundred millions, while wool-pro-duction has deceased in the same period by approximately 000,000,0001b. At the moment practically the whole world is demanding wool in continually increasing quantities, and there is evidence that prices \jvill not fall below i last week's values. Througnout the- universe the use of wool is becoming greater in volume each year, while world rrcduction is moving in thp very opposite direction. In nil the great sheep-breed-ing lands it is usually considered that the annual crop of lambs will temporarily almost double the flocks, but tbe numbers of lambs killed to sunnly tho world's fat lamb trade prevents the accumulation necessary to raise the numbers of sheep to such an extent as to render any immediate fall in wool vnlues probable. Tt is the writer's carefu l !)- con-sideicd opinion that the fat lamb exnort trade will continue to grow in volume and popularity, thus retarding the over-pro-duction of wool. Year after year we find 'that there is a growing: overseas demand for fat lambs from the everincreasing populations of the crowded parts of the Old World, who now demand this succulent food. As civilisation spreads in foreign lands the demand for clothing must march in its train. At the moment it seems highly improbable that the increase in the number of fioep throughout the world can ever more than keep pace with the conrlnnallygrowing pbnulations of America, and the United Kingdom, without taking into consideration the other countries which are calling 1 for wool products. A quite recent expert estimate of the world's consumption is on an average of 2,850,000,0001b and the available supply for last season from all sources was only 2.511,000,0001b, or 339,000,0001b below the necessary requirements. Manufacturers consider that the year of 1921 was a period c_ very low consumption, and it appears evident that the available supplies for 1925-26 will be appreciably short of the quantity used by manufacturers during 1921. It is further considered that it will take nt least another six years before the number of sheep in the -world will approximate those of .pre-war numbers. It will thus be seen the outlook for wool prices for the remainder of this selling season is on a sound basis, and growers' quite evidently have pleasing prospects ahead. The Oriental peoples are no\*using far more wool than ever before, and- they are increasing their demands, annually. It can readily be foreseen that if America and Europe are to keep up .their present standards of clothing, the short-' age must either be overcome, prices must ue still further increased, or some suit- | a ™- substitute found. ! t__ft . su^ i . visi °n -of large sheep std- I years lv na thS l1 :Domsnion ursn S former 1 ■£u« B J'fr d 80me "etrogres--tog\„^a^, e s 1i t 7euess to type of sheep aete. in the li. 85 e " nness -nd char- , V/ the Thls , is considered I Mr- J. W^ 1 tractor, 1 • • _^i, Wool on tt. shee Psmaller settler* wi" 1 , c P ar * of the of those form.; Vh gre S°V P S_rtt* Live Stock ™* e . moustr *tions Department of a- Dlv «ion of .!!„ Wclai m ed\o O Lte gr Sr -"*'.££ aient this respect S Vaßt im Prov c . N and it « pleasinl t_" g rece "t Years H much of this losT#rouna ?M T M regained. , ground «being rap^

I The disparity in values at last week's ' sales, between coarse and fine wools was i not nearly so marked as was the case during the previous selling period. The opportunity for young and energetic men to-day is limitless and the vast waste spaces of this country is beckoning them here, and the reward for an energetic existence upon such sheep lands to the man of even ordinary intelI'Kgflfie is assured. Unfortunately, too, many of our young men ar© looking for a sheep station in or near Queen Street, and wish to begin where their fathers left oft". Success, however, is only won, in any walk of life, after year's of selfdenial, hard work and application to the job in hand. Young men! bestir—get back and j breed sheep, and carve out your own j station (or holding) home, and eventual • independence.