RESTRICTIONS OK WETHERS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23316, 30 April 1941, Page 6

RESTRICTIONS OK WETHERS

EFFECTS IN OTAGO MINISTER’S REPLY TO FARMERS (P.A.) DUNEDIN, April M. The serious hardship imposed Otago high-country farmers by tfil restriction on wethers going into till freezing works this season was that* oughly discussed by a conference held almost a fortnight ago among repre* sentatives' of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the New Zealand president of the union (Mr W. W. Mulholland), and Mr H. M. Christie, adviser to tha Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. J. G. Barclay). The conference sent_4 telegram to the Prime Minister (tn* Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) urging the removal of the restriction on this class of stoC*» and undertaking to ensure that ontf annual high-country drafts would W killed. : . The customary was received, but although addition** telegrams were sent in the meantime no further reply was received until to-day, when the following messaW arrived from Mr Barclay; "Your tele* gram received. Sorry; but unable » open works for extended killing « present. Killing returns of sheep 1“ South Island up to the present **•'. above normal.” , This reply is taken by Farmer* - Union officials and other men terested in the problem to be final and it is believed that even the ip*' formation collected by Mq Christie PR his recent tour of the South Island ha* not persuaded the Minister of tn* urgency of the position. Mr Begg has been in close touch with. “W Meat Board during the last foruugtw and apparently it, too, has not beea able to make any impression on tn Minister. In addition, Mr Mulhollano. and the Dominion executive of in® Farmers’ Union made representation® on behalf of Otago. The outcome « all the negotiations is this telegram from the Minister, stating in eneC;. that no relief can be granted. position is now viewed with cern by all high-coimtnEstd'fbJwHJ.-f Otago.