SHEEP RETURNS

Southland Times, Issue 17783, 12 July 1916, Page 5

SHEEP RETURNS

A DOMINION DECREASE. ( Special to. the Times l. WEEEINGTDN, July 11. The interim return of the sheep in the dominion as at April 30th last was presented to the House this afternoon by the Hon. \V. D. Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture. The figures revealed a net decrease for the dominion of 293.353, the total being 24,607,868 as against 24,901,421 last year. The North Island shows an increase of 370,786, and the South Island a decrease of 664,339. The district details are as follows Increase. Decrease Auckland 1,836,512 155,920 Napier. Gisborne .. 5,087,196 661,661 Wellington. West Coast 6,763,091 876,527 Marlborough, Nelson and "Westland 1,360,590 17,320 Canterbury, Kaikoura 4,792,316 Olago .. .. 4,767,260 The -Minister said that he had no doubt that when the final return was presented it would show a much hotter result. Mr Nosworthy commented on the great decrease in the flocks of the South Island. Mr Anstey said that the return was taken at the wrong time of the year. It should have been taken about January. -Many farmers who had fattened ewe.s and lambs would have conserved them had they known that there was a shortage hi the flocks. The Hon. D. Bu.ldo urged that sheep returns should he taken in January and not on April 30th as at present. In reply the Don. W. I>. S. Mac Donald said that April 3(Bh had been the date for the last quarter of a century. The statistics wen* got in as quickly as possible, but those who knew farmers would perhaps appreciate the difficulty of getting them to. send prompt returns. They had to he written to again and again, Mil even now lie was not convinced that the returns were all in. The whole of the dominion would not, he thought, endorse January a-s the date. He was, however, prepared to go into the position and endeavour to give nil the information possible. CATTED INCREASE. The Minister said that the statistics of cattle had not been kept for the last few years, but the Department was now going into the position and secured returns. So far as these went they showed an increase of 300,000 over the figures taken four years ago. The counties had yet to send the returns and when all were in it was expected that there would be an increase of over 300,000, which was very satisfactory.