INCREASE IN SHEEP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22149, 1 July 1935, Page 5

INCREASE IN SHEEP

FLOCKS OF DOMINION 318,209 MORE THAN IN 1034 NEW ZEALAND TOTAL 28,967,247 An increase of 318,209 in the number of sheep in New Zealand is shown in a return compiled by the Department of Agriculture, when the interim figures at April 30, 1935, are compared with the final figures for 1934. The approximate total was 28,967,247, as against 28,649,038 last year. North Island flocks were responsible for almost the entire increase, a decrease having occurred in the South Island as a whole. This year's total is the largest since 1931, when there were 29,792,516 sheep in the Dominion. The highest total of sheep in New Zealand flocks in the past 10 years was recorded in 1930, when the number was 30,841,257. The approximate North Island total at April 30 this year was 15,664,770, compared with 15,264,588 a year previously, an increase of 400,182. A South Island decrease of 81,973, from 13,384,450 to 13,302,477, reduced the Dominion increase to the 318,209 quoted. Of the total increase Auckland was responsible for the larger share, flocks in this district having increased by 170,057, from 2,937,554 to 3,107,611. Decreases occurred in only two of the six areas into which the Dominion is divided for purposes of the return, and these were both in the South Island. Th<? greatest decrease was in the Canterbury-Kaikoura area, where there was a decline of 76,302, from 5,634,273 to 5,557,971. Following are details, according to pastoral districts, the interim figures this year being compared with the final figures for last year. Interim Final return, return, 1935 1934 Inc. Auckland .. 3,107,611 2,937,554 170,057 Gisb.-H. Bay . , 6,620,2C3 6,496,846 123.417 Well.-West Coast 5,936,895 5,830,188 106.708 N. Island totals 15,664,770 15,264,588 400,182 Marlboro-Nelson-Westland .. 1,383,261 1,390,158 *6.897 Cant.-Kaikoura 5,557,971 5,634,273 *76,302 Otago . . . . 6,361,245 6,360,019 1,226 S. Island totals 13,302,477 13,384,450 '81,973 Dominion totals 28,967,247 28,649,038 318,209 'Decrease. The interim figures show that there are 2,362,293 more sheep in the North Island than in the South Island. There are more sheep in the Gisborne-Hawke's Bay district than in any of the other five districts. In this respect Otago comes second and Wellington-West Coast third. GOLD AND SILVER QUOTATIONS IN LONDON (Received June 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. June 29 Fine gold is quoted to-day at £7 Is, 4Jd an oz., compared with £7 Is 34d 3'esterday and on Thursday. The quotation for silver at per fine oz. yesterday was 33 7-16 d, compared with 33Jd on Thursday. DAIRY BOARD MATTERS EAST COAST CONFERENCE [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] GISBORNE, Saturday

The Dairy Board has agreed to hold a ward conference in Gisborne at the end of July. Mr. J. H. Sutherland, secretary of the Kia Ora Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited,- who visited Auckland to give evidence before the Dairy Board on the matter of local marketing of butter, stated on his return to-dav that he had taken the opportunity of discussing ward conferences with Mr. J. A. Murdoch, M.P., chairman of the board, and Mr. T. 0. Brash, tho secretary, and had emphasised the importance of holding a ward conference in Gisborne, so as to suit the areas covered by the Wairom, Nuhaka, Toatoa, Okitu, Kia Ora, Tolaga Bav and Ngatiporou factories. The board had agreed to the proposal. The object of such conferences was to give the board an opportunity -of explaining matters of importance to the producers, and to enable them to elect delegates for the Dominion conference in September.