Sheep Industry Commission Set Big Task

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26748, 17 April 1948, Page 4

Sheep Industry Commission Set Big Task

The Farm

The Royal Commission on the Sheep Industry will sit in Dunedin next Thursday, Friday and Saturday to hear evidence by farmers ol' the province (except North Otago) and additional evidence by higli-country men. Members of the commission have already made a tour of inspection of Central Otago and the high country, evidence being taken during the visit. After the Dunedin sittings, the commission will make another visit of inspection to the back-country of the province. The high country has special problems of its own. but many ot these have a direct bearing on the low country. One of the onerous responsibilities of the commission will be to frame recommendations about the high country. It is obvious that the high country cannot be abandoned, and it is equally obvious that Lae. tremendous problems associated with at must be solved. By now, of course, members of the commission have seen a'ncl heard enough to appreciate the magnitude and variety of the problems confronting the sheep industry in this Dominion, -and what will be of the greatest value to the commission from this stage onwards will be constructive suggestions from slaexjpfarmers with practical experience of tuose problems which have already begun, to threaten the industry. It is generally agreed among slieepfarmers that the choice of the personnel of the commission was a wise one, and the way in which the commission it, going about the collection of facts and figures is receiving warm approval. Sheepfarmers have sought the appointment of such a commission for a number of years and, now that it is an established fact and is setting about its colossal taste with unbounded enthusiasm, the sheep-farmers must come forward with, every fragment of information at their disposal. The commission is endeavouring to obtain as much first-hand evidence on the site as possible and for this reason is inspecting individual properties throughout the country. Later, the commission intends to Av over the country t.vhen it is under snow, so that added impressions might be gained.