CRISIS FEARED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 237, 7 October 1942, Page 4

CRISIS FEARED

SHEARER SHORTAGE

RAPID ACTION URGED

Never in living memory has the labour position on sheep farms been so acute as at present, and unless rapid action is taken by the Government before conditions deteriorate further the wool industry will face a major crisis this season. This opinion was expressed to-day by a number of men prominently connected with the industry.

Inquiries show that new season's wool which has so far arrived in store at Auckland is well below the quantity at the corresponding period last season, and while the protracted wet weather prior to last week has been a factor in causing sheepfarmers to delay shearing operations the principal cause is stated to be the shortage of shearers.

If the clip is to be handled expeditiously it is contended that it will be necessary to release from military camps all shearers for as long as possible.

"We are naving the greatest difficulty in getting the release of men by the appeal boards," said a farming spokesman this morning. "The position is getting really serious, and is complicated by the fact that many shearers who enlisted or were called up have been sent overseas."

An Instance was Riven of a holding in North Auckland where one man was available to shear 00,000 sheep. So far the owner had been unable to make any arrangements for shearing, and he could expect no assistance from neighbours, most of whom were in almost as bad a predicament.

Results of the first local appraisement this season held in August, comprising mostly crutchings, with figures for the corresponding appraisal last year in parentheses, are: Bales appraised. 4016 (4553); net weight, 1,441.1951b (1,631,4001b); total value, £54,665 (£54,850); average price a bale, £13 12/3 (£l2 0/11); per lb, 9.10 d (S.o7d>.

While the quantity of wool appraised was lower, the value was little changed owing to the 15 per cent, price increase granted by the British Government. The retention money against contingencies is id per cent this season against 5 per cent last season.