OMAPERE SHEEP LOSSES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 224, 21 August 1945, Page 5

OMAPERE SHEEP LOSSES

OVERSTOCKING ALLEGED. HASTINGS, Aug. 20. His intention to bring the conditions at the Omapere soldier settlement to the notice of Parliament at the first opportunity was intimated today by Mr C. G. Harker, the member for Waipawa, who inspected the property during the week-end. Air Harker was accompanied by Mr F. R. Logan, president of the Waipawa and district branch of the R.S.A., and Mr V. W. Stratford, of the Waipukurau Rehabilitation Committee. "We were appalled nt the extraordinary severity of the losses both in lambs and in ewes," Mr Harker said. "On more careful inquiry we learned that they greatly exceeded any other losses in the district. It was apparent that the inevitability of heavy losses had arisen before the prospective soldier settlers arrived on the block." He added that it was obvious there had been throughout the winter months heavy overstocking and complete lack of foresight in making provision against conditions that were now apparent. In some paddocks there were far more dead lambs than live ones, and the primary cause of death was obviously starvation. We were informed that hay had been fed out to the stock, but there wore no signs of any recent distribution of hay or other supplementary feed. Avoidable losses will be very considerable. We were informed that during the recent dry months, in addition to heavy stocking of the property with its own capital stock, large numbers of other stock have been there for various periods. If tho conduct of farming operations at Omapere is. a sample of rehabilitation methods, then the loss in food production at a time when it is required as never before will be considerable. The waste of rehabilitation funds will be equally high."