H.—29a.

REPORT.

The Place op the New Zealand Sheep Industry in the National Economy. The importance of the sheep-farming industry in the national economy of New Zealand is indicated by Table I, which shows in millions of pounds (New Zealand) the annual value, of pastoral production, comprising almost wholly sheep products, but including cattle and pig products, for the ten years to the end of the producing season 1937-38. The contribution of pastoral production to total production varied from 23 per cent, to 35 per cent, in the period stated, and amounted to 30 per cent, of the total value of production in 1937-38. It is noteworthy that the. variation in the value of pastoral production was a prime cause of the fluctuation in the total value of production. Table I. Percentage ~ , . Total Value Pastoral to Pa ftoraJ Qf Tota] Value Production. i , l , )(l|K , timu of Production. £(m.) £(m.) 1928-29 43 127 34 1929-30 36 121 29 1930-31 25 98 25 1931-32 19 84 23 1932-33 .. • ■ -.20 84 24 1933-34 32 99 32 1934-35 28 97 29 1935-36 35 114 30 1936-37 47 136 35 1937-38 41 136 30 The actual gross receipts of the sheep-farmer are considerably less than the total value of pastoral production. The difference in 1937-38, some £14,000,000, may be accounted for mainly as follows :— Value of Production. £(m.) Pigs 3 Opossums and rabbits .. .. .. .. .. 0| Cattle .. .. • • ■ ■ • • • • 4 Processing, mainly freezing .. .. .. .. 3| Stock increase .. .. .. • • ■ • l«f Other .. .. .. •• •• ..11 £14 An illuminating indication of the actual gross receipts of sheep-farmers is provided in Table 11, which indicates in millions pounds (New Zealand) the returns realized for wool, mutton, and lamb in public and private sales. Table 11, however, is obviously incomplete as a guide to the total receipts of sheep-farmers in that it does not include subsidiary sources of revenue of the sheep-farmer, the principal of which probably is the production and. sale of cattle. Table 11. Wool. Mutton. Lamb. Total. £(m.) £(m.) £(m.) £(m.) 1928-29 13-8 4-3 8-3 26-4 1929-30 7-8 4-4 7-9 20-1 1930-31 5-0 3-1 7-2 15-3 1931-32 4-8 2-5 5-9 13-2 1932-33 4-8 2-1 6-3 13-2 1933-34 10-9 2-3 7-2 20-4 1934-35 5-8 3-5 9-8 19-1 1935-36 9-7 3-0 8-7 21-4 1936-37 16-5 3-6 10-7 30-8 1937-38 10-8 4-0 11-5 25-8

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