FLOCK RAMS

Evening Star, Issue 19763, 13 January 1928, Page 5

FLOCK RAMS

AUSTRALIAN AND HEW ZEALAND TRADE STRONG e GRITIGISM Press Association- By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, January 13. (Received January 13, at noon.) The Tariff Board Has concluded its hearing of the request from the Federal Council of Breeders of British Sheep for an increased duty on sheep of certain varieties. Giving evidence in support of the application, Mr David M'Naught said there was a good sport trade between New Zealand and Australia of what were known us flock rams, but unfortunately it was not a genuine trade. He said that when a New Zealand district had completed its season., and had rams left over, it could not sell those rams in another New Zelaand district because no other district would have them at any price. The result was that the dealers could buy them at their own price and ship them to Australia. Those rams would never fill their mission as rams. To begin with, they were scrubs and would not beget fat lambs. This was not the only trouble, because their progeny were good for nothing. They were inferior, and had not the power to fatten themselves. They wore therefore not sent to market, but left here. The result was that they were bred from again, and so deterioration went on.

Replying to questions, witness said that New Zealand looked upon Australia as its dumping ground. Furthermore, there was a movement on loot over there to prevent stud sheep of the better class coming to Australia.