FARMING WORRIES

Evening Star, Issue 24081, 30 December 1941, Page 4

FARMING WORRIES

SHORTAGE OF SHEARERS WOOL CLIP AFFECTED The .shortage of shearers, and weather conditions in general have exercised their effect in delaying this year’s shearing, so muck so that fears are being entertained 1 by rnnholders and sheep fanners throughout Otago, that further delay will result in the value of the woo) decreasing. Fanners who usually employ up to six shearers, have only been able to obtain the services of one or sometimes two this year. The position will be felt seriously on high country stations in the Lakes district hoards, when normally 12 shearers are needed. Some of these runs shear as many as 2-5,000 sheep, and at the moment they have only two or three shearers working. Discussing the position with the ‘ Star ’ this morning, the placement officer stressed the serious state that has come about, and he has asked that any shearer who has finished up on his run should! make contact with, him without delay, so that places where the problem is most urgent may be relieved as much as possible.

Sheep farmers are also facing heavy overhead expense due to the necessity of employing shed hands, cooks, and wool classers, for all of whom there is little work because of the slow rate of wool in coming in from shearing sheds. Serious, too, is another problem about to face the sheep-owner, for the Jnd-a-bid season is approaching, and it the shearing delay lasts until the wool becomes seedy, its value may’ drop by one penny’ or even , more per pound. The effect on the economy of the whole Dominion would here be evident.