Our Sheep.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13655, 25 July 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

Our Sheep.

WHAT THE FIGURES SHOW.. HONEST RETURNS IN Sl'lTE OF THE TAX. When the sheep tax was abolished soma time ago, says the " Dominon," it wiia predicted by some people whose faith in. human nature wan weak that the new cheen returns would show an enormous increase in the flocka of the Dominion. The theory was that in the dismal taxed ' days of the past the resentful shejpowriers had underestimated their annual possessions for the purpose of keeping the tax dowu to an illegitimate minimum., It was expected therefore that with the repioval of the tax the sheep.-uwners Would be restored , to a, state of honesty- and ' the country's flocks, as measured, by the re? turns sent in. would expand That expectation has iiot been„ realised. The flocks have, it is true beenfeturuod ais greater, but the increase : is scarcely as great as the ordinary natural causes r made probable.;; .;■"' It" must be concluded,■'. 'there? fore, that the sheep farmers/ in' spke v 6f the tax, have all along been telling the truth. We give here the "Government figures, based on the sheep-wyners' returns, and also a, calculation of what; increase was generally expected j based pa certain, statistical data:—-, Sheep in New Zealand (owners' figures). April 30. 1907 ■....,...' 20.953,77S April 30, 1908 ;... 22.124,208 . Increase '......,......:.. ,1;140,430 A Statistical Estimate. , ~. .. No. of sheep, April. '■ o 30, 1907 ......... 20,983,773. Lambs from 10,750,000 breeding ewes 10,000,000 ' ■•" -/- - m,wi;m Mill tori carcases ex- ■' . ' '■-■"■' ported .......... 1,82.1,426 ''■" ■ ■'• Lambs exported ... 2,326,437 : Tinned and boikd dowu, say ........ 750,000 Consuuied .. locally (1301b. per. bead) 2.250,000 Natural death's '. >.V , 500,000 . '■' Total disposed of . 8,147,865

_ Computed total remaining ■■'... 22i735, 1 9Q9 Tlkso calculations show that an, increase of If millions could reasonably have" been expected, instead of the ■ 'increase ■ of scarcely more than a million actually shown. ■•. . i _ . '.■■',

During last year a large ; area' of , label m Canterbury and North OUigo, which had been; denuded of sheep,by- the ■ drought.'of the previous year, was • restocked.' ■■ This Recounts for the increase in tliose areas. In addition to this there is a general increase per flock all over the Dominion, J.here have been, two seasous of abnormally good landing. I n . the season, helore lust the lambing was considered something wonderful, and some. : authorities consider the v lambing of last, .season whs even- belter. , Last season was! ushered 111 by, a fairly dry, mild, winter, and a cbld wet spring, and succeeded bv a dry summer, which kept the lamlx healthy. '.. Th ; s season has, so far, : been suiiieii hat similar. The health and condition of the ewes .«11 over the Dominion are. good, and .there is considered to be every prospect .of.'another; prolific lambing. " The l-euenu, spell of disastrous weather has buen severe over a few small areas. The weather in- the' North has .- not bwii to bad Jas that in the South,' where some losses iimiy ' be looked for on the '••higher country on account of the snow. It is uot, however, at ..present believed that the' losses 'will be extensive; hilucli will depend on the speed witli which the 'snow diwippsans: i.