SERIOUS EFFECTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22528, 7 January 1948, Page 4

SERIOUS EFFECTS

DROUGHT CONDITIONS MARKET FOR LAMBS FARMER URGES ACTION (P.A.) MASTERTON, Jan. 7. Mr. R. W. Kebbell, Wairarapa provincial president of Federated Farmers stated yesterday that the drought conditions prevailing in the Wairarapa were becoming serious, particularly as they affected farmers of the hill country who normally drafted a considerable number of their lambs to the works. “Due to the dry weather these lambs in many cases have not the finish that will bring them up to the grade as set by the Meat Board,” said Mr. Kebbell. “Not only will these conditions have the effect of depressing the store stock market, but they will result in considerably less meat being available for export to Britain because the lambs, if not killed now, will deteriorate still further in quality. “If a lower grade could be instituted temporarily, as was done two years ago, a lot of this meat could be saved. This needs to be done now, because if steps to meet this position are not taken quickly, not only will there be less meat for export, but the forcing of these lambs on to a market that cannot readily absorb them will have an adverse effect on the price received for all store lambs.”