Servia's Economic Struggle.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 19, 17 October 1907, Page 10

Servia's Economic Struggle.

AGRICULTURAL DIFFICULTIES INCREASING. Tho "Pall Mall Gazette" correspondent at Belgrado writes Servian cattlo-raisors have serious difficulties to face this year, owing to tho persistent closure.of tho Austro-Hungc-r----ian frontier, and to the abnormal dearth of fodder. The Stato has taken no other measure' of assistanco than to forbid the export of hay. The Stato is itself tho chief purchaser, since it has 6500 horses and 400 drayoxon to feed. For this it genoraliy requires eight or nine, million kilogrammes, valued at £20,000, when hay is ratcd'at five francs the hundred kilogs and straw at two francs. Hay is being sold at tho prosont moment at from ten to fifteen francs tho hundred kilogs—that is,- at triple its usual value I : Tho army, intondants ongaged in purchasing at tho usual centres have been disappointed, and must travel further to secure a supply 1 , which • augments tho price of transport. It is suggested, nevertheless, that tho authorities should purchaso a surplus of hay,and code it to tho peasants who aro short, or who have only meagro pastures, on condition that it should be returned to tho Stato during tho first normal year. . Such a step would tend to regulate' tlio present' exorbitant prices. Moreover, it would bo advisable to extend the export prohibition to bran, oats, and ovon maizo, as was done in 1904. It i 3 evident that the struggle for economic independence falls hoariest on tho agriculturists of Sorvia. The price of meat is very low, and tho endeavour to find an outlet for tho cattle trado ju Egypt, Malta, and Italian centres has not proved successful. The newly-instituted commercial agoncy in Genoa has been abolished, and tho Consul is actually on bis way home. It is feared that his colleague in Alexandria may soon follow. Moanwhilo the English meat-curing factories that aro expected to demand .an enormous supply of Servian stock liavo not yet beou built. Harvest prospects add to tho goneral doprossion, for tho fruit crop' is scanty, al-' though of the best possiblo description. Pears and peaches woro novor largor or more luscious, but there- is barely a sufficiency for homo consumption. Tho unprecedented drought has damaged all grains and grasses. ,