The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, NOV. 7, 1907. NEW ZEALAND VERSUS THE ARGENTINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2231, 7 November 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, NOV. 7, 1907. NEW ZEALAND VERSUS THE ARGENTINE.

Ever since the Argentine first entered the frozen incut trade there have been persons constantly predicting for that country that it would eventually secure the hulk of the frozen meat trade. Fifteen years -ago we were told that- New Zealand, so far from the source of its market, could (never hope (to continue to ship mutton .and lamb once the Argentine began to he opened ill). “Wait- n few years,” said these pessimists, “and New .Zealanders will have to find something else to do, ns the Argentine ipastoralists, with their .immense ranches, cheap land, and -cheaper labor, will heat us right out of the market.” But the years have gone on, land one set of pessimists ‘has given way to another, .and still the “tight little isles” of- the Pacific continue to play the leading part in me mutton and lamb trade, whilst in these lines tlie Argentine has actually receded. Amongst those who were never tired of belittling Australia, and (also this country, by unfavorable comparisons with the Argentine, was the editor of tho “Pastorslists’ Review,” one of the loading stock journals of the world, which is published in ■Sydney. Under tho circumstances tho following extract taken from the last nutuber to hand of that journal is particularly interesting: 4V e have for some years past drawn attention to the fact that Argentine is the greatest rival which Australia •uas to fear in the markets of the ou! world as a producer of wool land mutton on account of its splendid nnt.ural resources and closer proximst.y to a . market. These advantages st!ll exist, and, given good governincut, Argentine should yet take a great place in the world. But we bold no brief on behalf of tint country, and are as alive to its defects as its. advantages. Unfortunately, it would appear, the great natural advantages of the country ire being rapidly neutralised by - had govern" meat and outrageous extravagance which must bill any nation, as we have so frequently seen from the lessons of history. Private advices which have recently come to us from Buenos Aires show that “the country bus outrun the constable, spending not only every penny of its earnings, but its draffs on the future as well. Government has come in a belated conspirator in extravagance. I never remember. to have experienced,” writes a correspondent, “such lavish grants and expenditure in every, direction, and both nation and individual States emulate each other in recklessness.” The taxation neeeiiarv to meet this extravagance is rapidly becoming unbearable, us may he gathered from the fact that On house property the tax is equal ito two months’ rent out of twelve, and us rents are falling it will soon represent 30 per cent, of tho rents. When we lefini also, as an example, thafc sugar—“abominable sugar, such sugar as Queensland coolies would refuse to e at”—costs 5d per lb., it is evident that taxation is quite overdone. Such pressure as this cannot he withstood for long, and it may happen that, as suggested, the year 1E)10, the centenary of independence, may he celebrated by a sanguinary revolution instead of the more modern idea of an exhibition or national celebration. These experiences should mi ike Australians careful of their political privileges, and vote only for men who will keep down reckless expenditure and support sound government. v *

There are other drawbacks to .the progress of the .Argentine which the “Bastoralists’ Review'” does • not touch upon, but which make it distinctly undesirable from the standpoint of a New Zealander. (For one tiling.the climate is exceedingly trying in .summer, and the country is liable to severe droughts and he!ivy floods, besides locusts and other plagues. There is no effective 'Supervision on stock on. the part of tli e Government, with the result that cheep are subject to disease that destroy large numbers every year. Again, the conditions, of life are extremely rough, .and a New Zealander Irving his luck ait Sinning there is usually glad to get back home again.. The inhabitants arc largely Spanish, but include all nationalities, with a big sprinkling of Italians, .and the longlomejntioii is by no means, ngreenlsffc to an Englishman or colonial. A Wellington fanner who recently visited the .Argentine with a view of .settling’there declared on Ids return after a short stay that it was no place for a mail to take his wife and '.family. There lire, of course. opportunities for making money in the iVmth American repubI’c. and some huge fortunes have been obtained at cattle ranching, for which the country is eminently adapted, but there are many adverse factors which have to be considered avlien comparing it with such ■i country as our own. At any rate, it is interesting to note the frank confession of its former staunchest supporter, and we can take comfort in the thought that with all its

disadvantages our own system ol government and methods ol legislation produce 'much -more satisfactory results than are at present attuinnble in tho Argentina.