THE WEEK

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23319, 3 May 1941, Page 6

THE WEEK

MEAT KILLINGS The killing figures of meat at the various freezing works up to midApril, which were published .earlier id the week on the commercial page of "The Press,” rather negative the Ministerial statement made some time ago that farmers were killing capital stock. This statement could have been interpreted in various ways, but at least it was implied by the Minister that the policy was embarrassing the Government in dealing with the meat problem. Capital stock may be taken to include ewes, . which ordinarily would be retained for breeding, and wethers, which iri :; similar circumstances would be retained for wool production. The killing figures to midApril show that to that date .13,815 ewes fewer were killed this season than in the preceding period. The Meat Board states that, the restrictions which became operative on March 24, with their subsequent modifications, are now showing. their effects when comparisons are made with last season, but it might also be found, if the causes were elaborated, that,the earlier fattening season has had something to do with the position. The heavy increase in lamb killings (788,316 carcases) can be taken as supporting this view to some extent. The earlier killing of the lambs was naturally reflected in an earlier killing of ewes in those districts where the feed conditions were favourable. ' It is the wether killings, however, that provide the most direct contradiction to the “capital” stock contention. To April 13 this season they number for the whole of the Dominion 497,301 as against 982.178 for the corresponding period last year—or just half. In view of this marked reduction it would be a waste of time to suggest that this class of “capital" stock was being excessively killed. Although the South Island’s proportion of wether kilings is incomparable with that of the North bland, the number to date—-sa:.-small that it appears some consideration should 'be given to holders of this class of export sheep. The Government sent a special envoy to the south td inquire into the position. It needed so little inquiring into that it is a fair assumption that his report has reached the Government. In the meantime the colder weather is setting in on the southern high country, and while the Government is holding up a decision these wethers will probably be going back .in condition or eating the turnips required for wintering other stock. [The Minister has since given -his decision refusing to permit killings of wethers.] . •• The Government has achieved its main object of reducing mutton killings to a figure approximately' comparable with those of the corresponding period last year—actually the killings are less than half a million compared with 982.000 last year. The figures' show just how drastic was the cut, The total killings, on a mutton bails, therefore, •: allowing, for, 13;815 fewer eWe cafcases, 'arid -788,316 more lamb, arh only about 280,000 more than last year. The figures would appear to,, warrant some relaxing of the restrictions. ' ■ HOME STOCK VALUES. , The .fixed fat Stock prices operating to England ai the present time make arresting reading. From April 7 to May 19 first-grade lambs are worth 17d per, lb, halfpenny per lb reductions taking place after that period up till July 14. Sheep in the March-May period are worth 15Jd per lb, lightweight ewes. and unthrifty lambs, over-weight sheep, and heavy ewes Hid. The price paid for firstquality sheep is'based on an average annual pride of 14d pen lb estimated dressed Carcase weight. Beef is being paid for on a similarly striking basis.. In.the fortnight, which included the first week of April, : the price of. prim? home-grown beasts, dressing 57>per.ceriC Or - more, was;(rtfs pef Hite'CWv%Wcl»' works out opr our New Zealand system of the dead; weight, based on lOOlb.v at Slightly more thah £5 5s per 1001b. Beasts dressing 56 and 55 penteilf. are' Worth, 86s per live cwt Fat heifers range,up to 54s per live cwt 51s 6d. . >

THE SHEEP- POPULATION'[

• Some concern has bean expressed the decline in. the Dominion’s sheep figures itt' the last Two, years. From k’Deak of ’32,378,774. in 1938. the estimated number for 1940 had receded to.. 31,050,840; (the interim return); This decline', is not necessarily a sign bf decreasing pastoral production; but of favourable lambings and good meat prices, encouraging the mating of .more old ewes. There was a particularly poor lambing in 1939,, apd: ‘ ewe losses on high, country because-jot;,the; severe winter. The decline following the peak year was approximately, 500,000 head. The peak year, on the hther hand, showed an increase of more'than 1,000,000 .head on?the.fig-; ures of the year preceding. Except for a portion Of the South Island high country, where there has been a decline 'on account of deterioration of the grazing capacity, aided by the going out of production of several big stations,; there ;hag been : little change over a long period in: the sheep carrying capacity, of the country. Sheep men . generally were of the opinion, when the record 1938 figures were reached, that the strength was quite big enough ■ economicaUy. The, belief was thatlhere was a tendency to overstock, v The extent to which the sheep population, has increased,! in. view of the absorption of more land into dairying, is one of the notable aspects of the industry. j . But' these fluctuations, which' have .beem regarded-in. some quarters as a decline, are not new; When the Great .War ..'broke'out, in jw 1814 the,-sheep» strength of ‘ the Dominion . was 24,798,763. The special war effort slightly raised the figure in 1915, but .byrlpltott' was- nearly 2,00cr,00a more tban -te-iWi;' Then- a decline set in, and in 1922 the figure reached the lowest point for, 1$ ASter'cthatinumbers; commenced steadincrease; »nly another lojyears Being, redidfedviri add 10,000.600 -odd %>;tiie!l922 total. New creeping in to affect the?.stebility.vof ■ih¥;f>6sitlon. - High country In.'the Sdutn fslahd «ls -going hack in its 'carrying capacity imparts, some big stations have gone out of production, wheat'is replacing—to a small extent so . .far—sheep on fattening. cduntry, and the most potent cause of all is the first “knock”; ;the meat export industry hag received, practically since Its establishment s yearn ago, Le., the restriction of exports.