SHORTAGE OF SHEEP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF SHEEP.

HIGH PRICES PAID.

POSITION IN THE SOUTH,

is a. definite world shortage of wool. Equally definite would there appear to be a shortage of sheep in New Zealand now that woolgrowers have had cause once again to take an optimistic interest in the trend of markets (says the "Christchurch Times''). In spite of droughts, there is a scramble for sheep in almost every province except. Marlborough, which has been stricken with a drought to such aa extent over the last three years that many thousands of sheep have had to be sent to Canterbury for disposal. About half an inch of rain which fell some weeks ago was the first considerable shower which portions of the Marlborough province had experienced for some three years.

The sbortsge has to some extent been brought about through the practice, extending over several years, of sending ewe lambs forward for slaughtering and fattening up ewes which could have produced another lamb or two before their usefulness in that direction was exhausted. Now that the shortage has been proved by statistics and in practice, there is a tendency for buyers to over-reach themselves in the way of prices. Their keenness to secure sheep is having a tendency to push prices up well above what they are worth, and there is a distinct possibility of a slump in store sheep values sooner or later. Two-footlis on Wednesday brought as high as 26/2. that price being paid for 70 t.wo-tooth Corriedales. That figure was the highest for the store sheep market at Addington for some three years.