THE CONTINUED EXPORT OF WEW LAMBS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 4

THE CONTINUED EXPORT OF WEW LAMBS.

In a question put to the Minister of Agriculture in th«s House 011 the sth" inst. Mr E. G. Allen directed attention to a matter of the very highest importance to the colony. The sheep returns' disclose the fact that the large exportations of lambs are having a disastrous effect upon the flocks of the colony. We called attention to this matter recently, but the question is of such importance that it will have to be seriously^ considered by every sheepowner iv the polony. Mr Allen asked the Minister if he would take steps to prevent the exportation of ewe lambs for a term, so as to give the flocks of the colony time to recover from the effects of the severe depleting process that has been going on for years. Notwithstanding ' the steady increase in settlement and the increased' carrying capacity of much of the pastoral land due to Cultivation, there has been practically no increase in the number of sheep in fke colony since 1893. In that year the number of sheep returned was 19,380,369, increasing to 20,230,829 next year. In 1895 there was. a falling off to 19,826,604, with a still heavier drop in 1896. The figures have never again reached those given for 1895. As Mr Allen showed, the returns for the year ended March 31, 1899, disclosed a falling off on the i previous year's figures of 325,219. The ligures quoted by him disclose a serious ] state of things, and if the flockowners of the colony do not take fright at the dire results of their suicidal policy it is high time they did. Including the sheep and lambs slaughtered foi local consumption, the total number killed amounted to 5,197,800, or, roughly, 25 per cent., which is a pretty severe drain, leaving too small a margin for natural increase. But that is not all, it is the large proportion of lambs slaughtered that constitutes the real danger. The total number' of lambs returned last year was 4,767,044, being a decrease of 430,756 on the previous year's figures. Adding to that the natural mortality, Mr Allen shows that the actual decrease over 1898 would rejgresenj< nearly a mil-

lion, which is very serious indeed. New Zealand is, moreover, the greatest sinner in the matter of slaughtering lambs for export of all the countries' engaged in the frozen meat export trade, our exports lamb carcases for 1899 being 1,238,925, against 236,879 for the whole of Australia and the Argentine taken together. Clearly the flocks of the colony cannot longer stand the abnormal drain the tempting prices for lamb have occasioned, and the time has arrived when sheepowners must reconsider their methods. Bad as the numerical aspect of the question is, it has a deeper significance. It is bad enough to deplete the flocks of the colony by exporting such large numbers of lambs, but when it is considered that the lambs exported represent the best of, the flocks the far-reaching consequences of continuing the - policy of the past few years becomes apparent. The pick of the ewe lambs are sent abroad, while those of inferior quality .are retained to replenish the stocks. The ultimate result is that only inferior ewes will be lef b to, breed from, and beyond a certain point the process cannot be cai-ried without endangering the whole mutton export trade. A complete cessation of the export of ewe lambs, as suggested by Mr Allen, is a di'astic remedy, and one that probably need not be applied ; neither is it a matter that calls for legislative interference. , Mr Duncan suggests the only practical remedy, when lie advises that the agricultural societies of the colony should discuss the question and endeavour to arrive at some practical solution. It will be absolutely necessary to limit the number of ewe lambs slaughtered for local use and for export for some years to come, and surely the flockowners can see for themselves that ! united action in that direction is necessary without the application of the iron heel of Parliament. There is too great a disposition of late years to look to Parliament to interpose in matters that properly belong to the individual, and not to the community as a whole. Regulation of the frozen meat trade is

just one of those matters which fall within the province of farmers' clubs and kindred societies., and which do not call for Government interference. Now that the danger has been brought home to them, we think the flockowners of New Zealand may be trusted to apply the remedy themselves, by limiting the destruction of the best of the flocks until time enough has elapsed for a complete recovery of the ground lost.