EXPORT OF LAMB

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22583, 23 November 1936, Page 12

EXPORT OF LAMB

Sir, —In the Hehui/d of November IS I read with interest a warning to New Zealand farmers regarding our lamb trade. It was given by a member of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board. Some mouths ago a well known Wairarapa sheep farmer just back from Australia brought this subject up at a meeting of sheep Breeders at Palmerston North. There seems to be no doubt that in a very short time Australia will capture the fat lamb trade in England. We read every season that her lambs are improving and are more suitable for the Home market. I believe in Australia the lamb business is thoroughly studied and the agricultural departments have men to instruct farmers on the best and most up-to-date methods of fattening lambs suitable for export. Are we as farmers going to let an export which undoubtedly promises to be one of the greatest assets to this Dominion slip between our fingers? The farmers of New Zealand are definitely very badly organised when it comes to business such as this. Why would it not be possible for an organisation such as the Farmers' Union to take such an important matter in hand? New Zealand farmers do have the opportunity to change from fat lamb raising to cows or pigs, but if we are not very careful our present good name for producing good lambs for the Home market will be definitely lost. Do it Now.