SHEEP INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 5 October 1936, Page 4

SHEEP INDUSTRY

POSSIBILITIES IN KENYA N.Z. BREEDER'S VIEWS EXPORT OP STUD STOCK , The wonderful possibilities of the country in Kenya from the pastoralist's point of view were commented upon by Mr. G. O. T. Rutherford, of Blenheim, a prominent New Zealand sheep breeder, who has just returned from a five months' visit to South Africa. The country was first-class for the sheep industry, he said, and with enterprising owners and healthy flocks the future seemed bright indeed. Discussing the embargo against the importation of' Australian sheep at present in force in South Africa, Mr. Rutherford said he had pointed 1 out that it was not generally known, that the embargo did not apply to New Zealand, and if, therefore, South African breeders ever desired to import fresh blood for their stocks the obvious place for them, to go was New Zealand, where animals of the same blood' as those found in Australia could toe obtained New Zealand could not, of course, re ' export animals that Were imported from Australia, but the restriction did not apply to their progeny. PROBLEM OF GAME! Mr. Rutherford added that he had succeeded to some extent in setting the ball rolling for the importation to some parts of the Union of stud sheep from New Zealand, but from his observations it seemed that the main part of the country where 'they would be required was in Kenya. One of the great problems to be overcome there, Mr.- Rutherford considered, was that game would have to be confined to proper reserves, otherwise the sheep and stock industry would not prosper as it should do. The risk from tick-borne diseases and the cost of fighting them was 'tremendous when game had a free run in stock and sheep areas, but if game were confined to properly-defined areas the settlers would have a. chance to make the necessary improvements in grazing and other matters. It was impossible to run a sheep and stock industry and a game paradise lor tourists side by side. NEED FOR STATE ENCOURAGEMENT It had seemed to him, too, Mi - . Rutherford said, that the Government would be well advised to give some assistance to sheep breeders in Kenya in the same way as the South African Government had assisted sheep breeders in the Union. There, a substantial rebate of 50 per cent, he believed, was allowed on the importation of Merino and other purebred rams. During the period when, the industry was expanding a good deal of splendid stock, due to this concession, was imported from Australia and had helped immensely in improving the Union's wool production. He understood that the authorities were considering the inauguration of a similar scheme in Kenya. Assistance ot this kind would not only help the sheep farmer, but would react to the benefit of the entire colony. Kenya was handicapped to a greater extent than any other colony or Dominion that he had visited, and he was sure that a little help from the Government would be ■imply repaid.