H.—23a

1911. NEW ZEALAND.

INTERIM RETURN OF SHEEP IN THE DOMINION ON THE 30th APRIL, 1911.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, Wellington, 15th July, 1911.

Approximate Number of Sheep in the Dominion on the 30th April, 1911.

The decrease recorded is principally accounted for by the dry summer and shortage of feed in some sections. This led to a larger number of sheep than usual being killed for export. One Canterbury company alone has handled 196,891 more carcases this year than last year. The decrease in several districts is further accounted for by the establishment of new meat-export works.

Number of Sheep in the Dominion, and Export of Mutton and Lamb, for the past Ten Years, at 30th April.

Thos. Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not printing (1,750 oopies), £1 7e. fid.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9ll.

Price 3d.]

Numbi jer of Sheep. District. 1910.* 1911. Increase. Decrease. Auckland Napier-Gisborne Wellington-West Coast... Marlborough-Nelson-Westland Canterbury-Kaikoura Otago 1,205,346 5,913,301 5,799,015 1,302,059 5,486,464 4,563,435 1,116,470 5,638,857 5,564,138 1,615,912 5.244,078 4,575,130 313,853 11,695 88,876 274,444 234,877 242,386 Total 24,269,620 23,754,585 325,548 840,583 Decrease, North Island Increase, South Island 598,197 ' 83,162 Net decrease 515,035 * Complete returns.

Year. Number of Sheep in Dominion. Mutton Carcases exported. Legs and Pieces exported. Lamb Carcases exported. I 1902 1903 1904 1900 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 20,342,727 18,954,553 18,280,806 19,130,875 20,108,471 20,983,772 22,449,053 24,269,620 23,754,OSS1,712,670 2,497,546 2,388,959 1,888,065 1,500,773 1,921,465 1,821,426 1,899,446 1,711,839 1,979,534 Cwt. 61,949 87,250 40,472 24,088 13,471 37,456 35,663 41,681 52,873 42,624 1,736,780 2,006,462 2,104,881 1,937,026 2,134,563 2,519,417 2,826,437 2,910,358 3,423,918 3,708,468 * Appioximate.