CHANGE TO SHEEP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 14 January 1937, Page 3

CHANGE TO SHEEP

FARMING TENDENCY WEEDS AND NO LABOUR POSITION IN TARANAKI The wool stores at Wanganui have proved incapable of holding the offerings from Taranaki, Wanganui and part of the Waikato for this season’s sales (says the “Herald.”) Although the sweeping rise in wool prices will explain in part consignors’ enthusiasm the fact that all but a few score of nearly 60’000 bales is 1936-37 clip would suggest that there are other causes for the tremendous increase in the offerings. The suggestion has been made that the spread of noxious weeds, the effect of the Government wages policy and the uncertainty of the dairy produce market may be considered largely responsible for the growth of this year’s clip. The original allotment for the first Wanganui sale on 21st January was 28,000 bales, but in spite of‘an increase to 30,000, the catalogue was filled long before Christmas. Consignments have continued to pour .in heavily, until, with business scarcely into its stride again after the holiday break, there is little space left in the further 30,000 bale catalogue for Ist March. The situation can be traced, it is suggested with the aid of statistics of freezing works activities in the year ended on 30th April, 1936. In that period the number of wether carcases frozen approximated 203,000 more than in the previous 12 months, while ewe mutton showed a corresponding decrease of 443,000 carcases. The inference is that, the ewes have been kept back on account of the favourable state of the fat lamb market, with a natural effect on the production of wool this season.

A MARKED TREND

This trend is applicable to the whole of the Dominion, but it has been particularly marked in dairying districts where land previously devoted to cattle is now carrying many thousands of sheep. Taranaki firms are this year receiving wool from farmers in Taranaki and the Waikato who had never before been concerned with sheep. The improvement in wool and mutton prices is obviously responsible in part for the change-over. Large areas of backblock land, abandoned during depression years, were transformed into ragwort country and, allowed to seed unhindered, have now infested whole dairying districts. Rather than continue the unequal fight, especially with prospects much brighter and less uncertain for sheep than for dairy produce, many : farmers have abandoned pasturing for grazing.

FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

The process has been accelerated in parts by the difficulties of obtaining labour for dairy farms when higher wages than farmers can afford to pay are being offered on public works. Some 'dairymen have found the rise in their wages bills the last straw and. others .find there is no labour available at-any price. The result in many casbs has been the arranging of clearing sales. A case in ’point occurred only the other day, when an East Taranaki farmer was unable to replace his son, attracted by the better income to be obtained from a public v./orks job. The combined effect of these factors is seen in the recent necessity of obtaining outside storage for the overflow of wool at Wanganui. Consignments are going straight from the shears to the store and little is being Shipped Oh Owner’s account. The ewe wool is of much the same standard as in former years, but hogget wool in many' cases is 'thinly grown, due apparently'to unfavourable climatic conditions.