ROVING MOB OF SHEEP

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27734, 11 August 1955, Page 11

ROVING MOB OF SHEEP

TE PIRITA FARMERS’ DIFFICULTIES “NO CASE FOR AID FROM PUBLIC FUNDS” (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) • WELLINGTON, August 10. Though he was sympathetic towards the difficulties of two young farmefs who have been grazing 2000 Merino ewes in the Okuku district, he could see no case for from public funds, thte Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J; Holyoake) said in the House of Representatives today, when he replied to a question by Mr C. L. Carr (Opposition, Timaru). Mr Carr had quoted a report in “The Press” cf July 25. The Minister said that an arrangement by the two farmers to lease -200 acres of turnips had lapsed and it was understood that a Court case was pending. Grazing had been made available for a week by a farmer in the Okuku area, and the owners hoped to obtain further grazing after then. No teed would be available on their Te Pirita property until September. If the ewes remained on the road while lambing, losses were considered possible, said Mr Holyoake. Local farmers were reported to be sympathetic towards the plight of the two young men.. Mr Carr said the picture given in “The Press” was not altogether a lovely pastorale. The suggestion was that the two young men had been driven off their farm by financial reasons or nature. The farmers themselves were in sympathy, and the police had taken no action. He suggested that the Minister could investigate the case, and give some help. He was not suggesting a monetary grant, but an arrangement through tht offices of the Department of Agriculture, said Mr Carr. Surely the Minister, from the goodness of hi' heart, could give some practical relief Mr W. H. Gillespie (Government Hurunui) said he could not help feeling for these young fellows, but it was upsetting to farmers whose fences were not so good to see a mob of sheep strung out along the road. Work in the Ashley river bed by the North Canterbury Catchment Board would have been spoilt if the sheep had not been taken out. As he understood the position, the young farmers had fenced off roads at nighU and caused inconvenience to nearby farmers on back roads, said Mr Gillespie. Police action was being taken.