EXPORT OF HORSEFLESH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 307, 23 September 1919, Page 8

EXPORT OF HORSEFLESH

A- FRENCH MARKET FOR AUSTRALIA.

In referring to the mention in the ' 'French Mission's report to the possibility of a market for frozen horseflesh 111 France, Mr. Don Elliott, of Springfield, Mount J[;Donald, writes: "This is n branch of ttie export trade that has . been altogether too long undeveloped. VrhiC'e we here are more or less prejudiced ngninst this article of diet, we should not allow our prejudice to prevent us from supplying the commodity to tlioso who desire it. The benefits, apart from the direct financial aspect of the case, are manifold. In tlio first place, a horse fattens more quickly on less feed than an ox, and on the average to a much greater weight. . Secondly, 1;y weeding out, having regard only for those horses above ,the average utility standard, a -very much better standard of horses would remain for general use. A considerable proportion of our horses are almost useless as, beasts of burden. 1 read an account iii a'district paper recently whero some- 50 horses were 'offered at Oberon for. .4360, and,' failing to find a buyer at tluis price, the. pick of them were- so'ld nt a reduced price, and tlio balance killed for their hides. A few days previous to this wo ffeadof a sale of discarded tnffi--tary horses in Prance, ranging In price from' c£l7 to .£SO per head. The creation of a market .in Europe for frozen liorso flesh would assist us to pay our war debt, get rid of many undesirables, and indirectly against our falling local meat supply. Cfjn anyone advance a reason why stock-raisers and farmers generally should riot make a united effort to establish such a market?"