KEEN DEMAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20137, 5 January 1940, Page 10

KEEN DEMAND

STOCK FOR WAIKATO LONG TREK FROM WAIROA CATTLE AND SHEEP (Special to tlie Herald.) WAIROA. this day. Already this season large numbers of sheep and cattle have left Wairoa on the annual trek to the Waikato, where there is always a big demand for stock from this district for breeding purposes, and it is expected that the number to be sent from here will be as great, if not greater, than was the case last season. While in conversation with the manager of one stock firm to-d?,y a reporter learned that the market price lor cattle in the Waikato at present seemed to be in advance of Hawke s Bay. A greater number of cattle had been sent, from Wairoa this season than previously, and there was still a steady demand for them. The quality of the stock was well up to standard and in many eases there was a noticeable improvement on other years. The prices also were well in advance of those ruling last year.

Referring to breeding ewes, of which Wairoa annually supplies a large number to the Waikato, it was stated that the demand Was up to that of previous years, and already some fairly large mobs had left. A further 10,000 sheep’ were lifted by this firm yesterday., for the Waikato.

Although the railway is now in operation, most of the stock is being sent through on the hoof, the reason for this being that even taking into consideration the 28-day trek through the lake district to Rotorua in the case of sheep and the losses suffered, the freight demanded by . the railway is still too high.