EXPORT RESTRICTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19885, 11 March 1939, Page 15

EXPORT RESTRICTION

REDUCED EWE MARKET EARLY EFFECTS SLIGHT LIGHTER LAMB CARCASES The view that any reduction in mutton exports will he effected by restricting the shipment of ewes, the cheapest mutton, is 'supported by Mr. W. H. Nicholson, secretary of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union. In a recent statement he said that there will probably be no reduction this year, owing to the lambs -being so light in weight, 'but if next season brings a return of the weather that prevailed three years' ago the reduction will become considerable. "Such a reduction," continued Mr. Nicholson, "will be felt most severely by the high-country stations, where the mortality is so large that most of the lambs are needed to replenish the stock, and where there is no fattening land. They depend on their wool and their ewes. Wool prices are dropping, ewes are worth very little, and most of the stations are to-day bankrupt; any reduction restricting the market for ewes would wipe them out completely. "The other serious aspect is that, while the quota is in force, it is useless for farmers to increase production, for then they would only be left with a surplus on their hands," continued Mr. Nicholson. "There will he no progress while the restriction, is in force, and there will possibly be a retrogression. Then, too, having once introduced a restriction, the first and most important step, the way is open to Great Britain to 'increase it at any time."