THAT ANIMAL CENSUS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 60, 11 March 1944, Page 4

THAT ANIMAL CENSUS

Sir, —I fear met most farmers will read your leading article in Tuesday’s issue witn jaundiced eyes. Farmers 1 already send in one return of all stock, in detail, through the police department; a second one, not so detailed, through the stock inspectors, and a third one, totals only, in their returns to the Tax Commissioner. The NewZealand Meat Producers’ Board in its annual reports, until recently, furnished a detailed report on the numbers of stock of all classes, except horses, in the Dominion. That the total numbers of stock in the Dominion are not exactly known, is not the fault of the farmers, but is due to the fact that there is said tc be a shortage of staff in the Government Statistician's Office in Wellington. When one remembers the weather conditions existing in 1943, and the drought throughout this summer, it would be surprising indeed if there were not an all-round drop in primary production for the season ending. June 30, 1944. Add to the weather conditions, shortage of fertiliser and labour, ana it will not need much thinking to realise that a drop this season is inevitable.—l am. etc., “WAYBACK.”