LAMBING TROUBLES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 18 September 1935, Page 8

LAMBING TROUBLES

effect of facial . ECZEMA

The existence of the trouble known as facial eczema is causing a good deal of concern amongst flock owners in parts of the North Island. It its perhaps fortunate that there is no move* ment of sheep to Canterbury in the circumstances. . , ~ The Department of Agriculture is not yet-in a position to make any statement regarding the effect of the facial eczema disease on lambing. This was explained by Mr D. ! A. Gill, district superintendent, Live Stock Division, who stated that complications were expected, but it was too early yet to say whether these anticipations were being confirmed. " Mr Gill said that fewer 111-effects than expected had been noticed to date, and mortality was not serious so far. Lambing had not advanced sufficiently to say whether an appreciable percentage of the flocks would fail to Ir.mb or would be late in lambing, and so far as could be seen in the Gisborne and Manawatu districts, two which had been very badly affected, facial eczema had made little difference to percentages or to mortality. However, it was too early to give any . definite pronouncement. A number of owners in these di®» tricts, he« added, had undertaken to mark ewes which had been affected with facial eczema, or photo sensitlsation, which was a more correct term. So far, however, the department had received no reports from those in the Gisborne district with marked ewe flocks, and as the department relied upon such men for their information he would like to hear from them as soon as they have any results to report.

• A development in Victorian farm practice has a direct interest to New Zealand lamb producers. A Melbourne report states that within a comparatively brief period approximately 250,000 acres of what4s officially known as "marginal land" in the new or north-western Mallee will be returned to the lands Department by the Closer Settlement Commission as being of no further use for the economical growing of wheat. It will be let by tender in large areas for grazing purposes.

The weight of barley produced in the Dominion last season was 484.6P9 bushels, compared with 730,963 in the preceding season. The yield an acre was 26.28 bushels, compared with 34.77 the j'ear bsfore. The" reduction ih yield? of eight and a half bushels to the acre was considerably larger than in the case of other cereals. The wheat reduction was five and a quarter bushels, and oats four and a half bushels. --

subsidies granted by the Mines Department was 129. In addition, the department found the sum of £BB 19s 3d towards the cost of supervising prospectors subsidised from the Unemployment Fund. Provision totalling £l6lO, including £ 1410 in the Public Works Fund, was made for expenditure by way of direct grants and subsidies for roads and tracks. Unemployment Board During the year the Unemployment Board continued to assist men to prospect for 'gold, the net expenditure by the board for subsidies, supervisors, purchase of equipment, etc., being £187,689, including £3169 paid to mining companies and syndicates by way of subsidy on the wages Of the men employed. During the year an average of 3600 men, including subsidised men employed by companies and syndicates, have received assistance. ... , ... From the inception of the boards prospecting schemes to M&rch 31, 1934 t 90830z of gold, excluding gold Obtained by subsidised companies and syndicates, was won by subsidised miners. For the 12 months ended March 31, 1935, 83700z was obtained, making a total production of 18,35302.