NEW ZEALAND’S FLOCKS

Northern Advocate, 3 July 1928, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND’S FLOCKS

Tlie interim census of flocks as at April 30 last shows the largest number of sheep ever recorded in New Zealand. The total is sot down at 27,001,23(1, which exceeds by 4(52,934 the previous record, in 1918, when the number was 20,538,302, In the following year the flocks had fallen to 25,828,554, and the decline continued to 22,222,259 in 3922, since when each year lias shown an increase, bringing the total at the last census to the highest ever recorded. It is probable i that the number disclosed by the provisional returns will be substantially increased in the final figures. Already j tlie increase for the year is substantially greater than was disclosed in 1917-18, when there was an increase of 1,2(58,000. The highest increase in one t vear over the last thirty years took place in 1907—08, when the figure was 1,4(55,0 00. An examination of the figures over the last decade shows that the record number of sheep in the North Island was 14,758,278, and In the .South Island 11,780,024, both in 1918, the decline being comparatively uniform in both islands until .1922, when the figure for the North Island was 12,095,805 and the South Island .10,120,454. Since that year the North Island flocks have increased by 2,333,15(5 and the South Island by 2,445,821, I the total increase having been 4,778,977. The recovery to a level above the record of 1918 has not been uniform throughout the Dominion, there being 329,000 fewer sheep in the North Island than in 1918, and 728,000 more sheep in the South Island. During last year the greatest expansion in the North Island is evident in the Welling-ton-West Coast, and Gisborne-Hawke’s ’ %

Bay sheep districts, the figures being 195,97:.: and 100,144 respectively, while in the South Island the Otago sheep district leads with an increase of 199,511, -Canterbury being second with 403,031. During the decade the Otago docks have increased by 728,500. Since wool is by far the most important individual item in New Zealand’s export trade, and the value of all produce from the flocks of sheep greatly exceeds those from its herds of cattle, the importance of the flocks of the Dominion cannot bo overstated.