40

(iv) Production Killings of sheep, lambs, cattle, and calves were as follows :

The figures for cattle and calves naturally include some production from the dairy industry. Wool-production figures were as follows : Million Million lb. lb. 1880 .. .. ..67 1920 .. .. ..174 1890 .. .. ..106 1930 .. .. ..273 1900 .. .. ..148 1940 .. .. ..310 1910 .. .. ..200 1947 .. .. ..346 The estimated value of production of the sheep industry to-day is as follows : (а) Value of exports (year ended 30th June, 1947) — £ Wool .. .. .. 42,849,000 Meat .. .. .. 30,458,000* Skins .. .. .. 9,038,000| (б) Value of internal consumptionMeat .. .. .. 10,000,000 (estimate) Wool .. .. .. 1,000,000 Skins .. .. .. 350,000 „ 93,695,000 * Includes approximately £1,000,000 of dairy industry produce, t Includes approximately £1,500,000 of dairy industry produce. (v) General Conditions A general picture of the industry to-day portrays three features : (a) The man on good, improved land is doing well. Prices for his products are high and, though costs are high, the margin between cost and price is very satisfactory. His lands and his stock are in good condition. His economic position is sound. (b) The man on deteriorating hill country is doing badly. Prices for his products are high, but the low level of production from his land leaves him insufficient to meet the expenses necessary to maintain his land against deterioration. (c) The man on high country is doing comparatively well at present prices, although facing heavy costs to maintain his land. His worst fears are insecurity of tenure and a fall ir^*wool-prices f which have fluctuated violently in the past. His greatest difficulty is the general problem of keeping men and their families in the high country.

— Sheep (Millions). Lambs (Millions). Cattle [ (Thousands). Calves (Thousands). 1920-21 5-3 3-6 417 35 1930-31 4-3 8-2 367 444 1940-41 51 120 600 1,060 1946-47 5-0 11-8 719 1,085