THE SHEEP FARMER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 17 April 1939, Page 12

THE SHEEP FARMER

SERIOUS POSITION TO-DAY BIG FALL IN PRICES l United Pros* Aronciar Inn’ WELLINGTON, 15th April. The present position facing New Zealand sheep farmers was referred to today by Mr A. P. O’Shea, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. He quoted figures showing the big drop that has taken place in prices in the Wellington Province, and pointed out that in South Island districts, where ewes are not siutable to the same extent for fat-lamb breeding, the position is considerably worse. “It is not generally realised how serious the position of the sheep farmer really is,” said Mr O’Shea, in an interview. “but the fact that the Easter conference of the New Zealand Labour Party has drawn attention to it is rather heartening. The fall that has taken place in ewe prices should bring the public to a realisation of just how bad the position actually is.” Mr O’Shea quoted from a return showing prices received by stations in the Wellington province last year and this year. They were as follows: 1938 1939 2000 5-year ewes ....' 25/- 20/300 5-year ewes 25/6 17/6 to 18/6

The table also showed that ewe lambs, which were fetching 16s 3d to 24s 6d in 1938, are bringing 13s lOd to 18s 6d this year. The figures, said Mr O’Shea, were representative figures selected for him by a stock and station agency. “I asked the agency.” he added, “to take representative stations, and it will be seen from the numbers quoted in the sales that these vary from large to small places. It will be seen also that at the bigger stotions there has been a very large drop indeed. It would be possible to obtain worse figures than these, but those that have been given to me are representative, and it should be emphasised that they are not selected in order to make a case.”

Annual draft of 4vear ewes 28/6 20/100 2-tooth ewes 36/7 29/1 175 2-tooth ewes 34/7 24/6 40 2-tooth ewes 40/- 32/400 7-year ewes 18/- 9/-