DRAMATIC MOVE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 13

DRAMATIC MOVE

EXPORTING STUD SHEEP

OUTWITTING A GOVERNMENT

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 2Sth November.

The swift move by Soutli Africa and Russia to buy in Australia 30,000 stud merino sheep, and rush them out of the country before the Government imposes its threatened embargo, constitutes ono of the most dramatic moves in the history of the sheep industry of tho Commonwealth, and it is bound to have great interest for the pastoralists of New Zealand. Whether the Government will still be able to prevent the export of this enormous number remains to be seen, but it is known that several members of the Labour Cabinet are opposed to the export of stud sheep.

♦i, .v' aS / e Portea on good authority the other day that 5000 sheep had been purchased on behalf of Soviet Eussia, for transport to Southern Russia, where the sheep industry is making considerable progress. South African agents have also been extremely busy m all f^Tff t the country, and it is Ba id tiiat the total orders placed with the various breeders, more particularly in New South Wales, total 30,000 The total number of stud sheep exported to South Africa last year was 3780 and even this number was responsible for many protests from people who were jealous of the position occupied by Australia among tho wool growing countries of the world. Imagine the outburst, then, with orders dn hand totalling 10,000 for South Africa alone Does it constitute a serious threat to Australia, which is so greatly dependent on its wool for its prosperity? It is said that all the finest flocks are represented in the orders that have been placed, and that tempting prices were paid by the agents of Russia and South Africa. Now the growers look to tho Government to prevent the owners of studs from disposing of the best sheep that Australia can offer to the countries that may become their f,r^ St rivals tho veiv near future. With wool values at their present low level," said one of the growers, "and with little or no return coming to us and knowing well that our greatest industry is in danger, particularly from bouth African competition, built up by the wholesale export of our stud sheep it is criminal 'o allow this-mad policy to continue. If protection for Australian wool growers is not given the industry, already penalised by the 'hi<»h costs c-f production, cheap African labour competition, and fighting its way against artificial and synthetic in blow' Xrm rOeOiV° anoth«-WgM-BETWEEN TWO FIRES. "Australia is between two fires— foreign competition in merino wool and the enormous world production of artificial substitutes for wool. American production of rayon and artificial wool this year is estimated at 135,000,0001b and in Great Britain! at 60,000.0001b Ihere is no evading the position. Australia s wool supremacy is being challenged. And to allow a mere handful of exporters to cut the throat of an industry worth nearly £70,000,000 a Connn an * % s ] f c«f ce '««> interests of ?w » f v buxlders > something that Australia cannot stand " One report states that money has been no object with the representatives at the countries concerned. Up to 1000 guineas is said to have been paid for first-class rams. Of the sheep exported last year, South Africa was the largest purchaser, and paid more than fcl/,000 for its purchases. Russia paid £15,000 for the sheep that went to that country. South Africa's scheme to become Australia's greatest competitor includes the thorough training of its students, who are sent to the Commonwealth for instruction. After studying at the technical colleges, they are received on to the studs whose owners sell to South Africa, and there they complete their training Ono of these students, now in Australia, is Mr. A. Hertzog, nephew of the Prime Minister of South Africa. Naturally the breeders are against any embargo on the export of sheep, and the Government does not seem inclined to act until there has been a thorough investigation. However, informed opinion predicts the imposition of an early embargo, hence the extreme activity of agents.