LOSSES OF STOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1938, Page 9

LOSSES OF STOCK.

ECZEMA OUTBREAK.

ESTIMATES EXAGGERATED. MR. J. S. JESSEP'S SUGGESTION (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. That estimates of losses of sheep as a result of the recent outbreak of facial eczema were exaggerated was a statement made by Mr. J. S. Jessep, vicepresident of the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation, at the annual meeting of the federation in Wellington today. He said that in 1035, when facial eczeina broke out. the farm supervisor, -Mr. H. fcyines, took immediate steps to cope with it, with fairlv successful results. With the experience of three years ago, the same course was followed this year, with the result that, although many areas of East Coast Trust lands had been badly affected, the losses were nothing like what reports would lead one to believe. Alarming reports Had been made concerning sheep in the Waikato that could do no good to the New Zealand meat trade. The outbreak had certauily been severe, but reports that the loss exceeded one and a quarter million in the Auckland district was a gross exaggeration.

In the entire Auckland sheep district stretching from Cape Runaway, Taupo, Taumaranui and across to the West Coast and up to the far north of Auckland, there were only 3,800,000 sheep in all, he added. In the districts badly affected there were not more than 1,000,000. and, allowing for losses among cattle, the estimate of one and a quarter million could be cut down By at least 70 per cent.