HEAVY LOSSES

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1934, Page 8

HEAVY LOSSES

STOCK IN SOUTH ISLAND.

WINTER WORS"..’ FOR YEARS.

Palmerston N., July 18.

The . opinion that the winter this year had been the most prolonged and seven in Otago and Southland for the past 36 years was expressed to-day by the director of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. R. B. Tennent, who has just returned to Palmerston North from a visit to these districts. Mr. Tennent said that occasional snowstorms were still being experienced in these districts and, there was still cold southerly weather. Lambing did not - usually begin until next month, and in the high country until late in August.* Serious lossesof sheep had occurred as the result of a succession of severe snowstorms and frosts, especially in Central Otago. On one property- in the Lakes district it was reported that over 3000 sheep had died in the heavy snow. The effect of the severe weather, said Mr. Tennent, had been a heavy .demand on supplementary fodders. The root crops were poor and many farmers were seriously alarmed at the prospect of a shortage of food for the winter. If there was an early spring the position would not be so acute as it was feared to be.