The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, January 7, 1944. A WEST COAST OPPORTUNITY.

Grey River Argus, 7 January 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, January 7, 1944. A WEST COAST OPPORTUNITY.

.West Coast pastoralists may find scope for greater enterprise before the present; exceptionally dry summer is over. The report of Wednesday’s Addington market indicates a'general easing in all lines of sbjck. Prices appear to have ejised widely as compared with {previous buoyant markets. With the continued period of fine sjnhmer weather, the fodder problem for stock is one which must be considered seriously. Af this time, when almost drought conditions are looming on th| pastoral, horizon, those with stocks are desirous of unloading in o/der that they may not be victinisW conditions which

may render it necessary to. quit their stock at almost any price to save the loss possible through a shortage of both feed and water — a not impossible position where long dry hot periods persist. While appearances point to a hot" dry season pastoralists will be reminded of the experience of Hawke’s Bay pastoralists some twenty-five years ago when store sheep could be bought at a shilling per head. Prices of fat cattle declined at Addington on Wednesday up to 50s per head and small primes receded by 25s per head. Store cattle were practically unsaleable. Fat lambs greatly receded in demand while stores failed to find buyers. One redeeming feature was that dairy cattle and pigs were in good demand at satisfactory prices. West Coast pastoralists usually purchase store sheep in large lures and if drought conditions affected the stock position seriously .in Canterbury, would probably seize the opportunity to secure lines for fattening with an eye to making a neat profit during the late autumn and winter months.