SHEEP RETURNS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10711, 8 October 1928, Page 2

SHEEP RETURNS

SUGGESTED CHANGE OF DATE

MINISTER’S DIFFICULTIES

Representations for the alteration of the dato of collection of the annual shoep returns throughout New Zealand from April 30 to J une 3o made by the Poverty,Hay A. and r. Association recently were answered by the Minister of Agriculture,. Hon. O’. J. Hawken, in a letter to the As- , sociation on Saturday. He explained that the matter had been engaging the attention of the Department for some time, but as thero were many aspects it required careful con-, sideration before any. change was made. “If the Act were amended, and! the date of collection made June 30, as the Association urges, it would be impossible to lay the return on the table of the House at the session concurrent with the date of collection. The preparation of an alphabetical list. of owners would also be delayed while the work would come into the Government Statistician’s, office at a much more inconvenient time. Apart from these considerations the commercial hrms require the lists in September and October which the change in date would render difficult to ach.eve. So far as the department is concerned its only des.re is to arrive at a date most suitable to all parties, and it would appreciate any remarks’ the Association may have to oiler on these points.” “It seems to me that collecting sheep returns at the end of the freezing season does- not reveal the true position of the flocks,” sa.d Mr Coop. He considered that the total of the stock killed and frozen in the works up to the end of the freezing season should be added to tlie number killed up to the end of June. He moved a recommendation to the Minister of Agriculture that tlie date of collection of returns remain as at present, but that the number ol stock put through the works up to June 30 should be append*.! to the statistics. . , , , ~ . Mr F. Tolerton pointed out that the Government already received monthly returns and would have the information tor publication. Mr P. J. Ro: torts said that the suggested alteration in the date ol collection of the returns had already been discussed by Parliament, and the great inconvenience that the change would make to stock firms and the Government had been stressed, and lie was inclined to accept that view. The. motion was withdrawn and tlie letter was received.