REPORTED SHORTAGE OF POLLARD

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23248, 7 February 1941, Page 7

REPORTED SHORTAGE OF POLLARD

GOVERNMENT CONTROL CRITICISED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TCI.EORAU.) WELLINGTON, February 6. Unable to get supplies of pollard, many New Zealand poultry-keepers, it is stated, may soon be forced to reduce their flocks. This predicament is made worse in many cases because flocks were recently enlarged in response to the Government’s appeal for increased production. Stock meal imported from Australia i% according to poultry-keepers; unsuitable as well as too expensive. Cattle and pig farmers are also affected by the shortage of pollard. Wellington merchants have had practically no pollard for three months. In the last year, they say, they have been able to obtain less than one-quarter of their requirements. To-day, there is not a bag to be obtained in Wellington. Bran is also very scarce. For the shortage, they blame the Government control. If merchants had been left to operate free from State interference, there would, they claim, be sufficient supplies to-day. LACK, SAID TO BE ACUTE > / v *' DUNEDIN, February 6. Inquiries concerning the reported pollard shortage show that the position here is as acute as anywhere, and is aggravated by continued shipments of supplies to the North Island, where requirements are usually met by importation, which is now virtually nonexistent—whether by reason of drought conditions or import regulations, it is not known. Locally manufactured pollard is rationed, a large proportion goin# north, The shortage was accentuated by flour mills closing in December fpr overhaul. STOCK SALES fairliE There was an entry of 1500 store lambs at the sale at Fairlie this wedk. The lambs offered were In good (Condition. Top price was 20s for a line o.f forward conditioned Border Leicester cross lambs. The following is the range of prices:— Fat wethers,. 20s lOd to 26s 10d': fat ewes, 10s to 13s; best lambs, 17s to'2os; medium lambs. 14s to 16s 6d; small lambs, 6s 9d to 11s 10d; Romney cross ewe larhbs, medium, 18s. Tin—Tin is quoted in London at £256 (buyers) and £256 5s (sellers) a ton spot, £257 15s and £253 forward,. Tin statistics for January are; World visible supplies, 24,798 tons; Straits carry-river, 4998; supplies, 18,022; deliveries, 1®,244.