PASTORAL SOUTH AMERICAN

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1931, Page 3

PASTORAL SOUTH AMERICAN

INTERVIEW WITH CHILEAN VISITOR. PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALAND

Head of a large meat.and wool'exporting firm in Chile that controls ior the purpose of its business many hundreds of thousands of acres ot pastoral land, AH' ]>. Braun, who lias come to Christchurch ior tile purpose of entering his son at Lincoln College, had some interesting observations to make. Air Braun was fu.l of admiration for New Zealand, and was particularly interested in drawing an analogy between his own country and the Canterbury province.

“ M.v firm is called iSociulad Sanndira ‘Sara Braun,’ ” lu* said. “ We rear sheep for both killing and shearing purposes, and have what you (all a freezing works of our own. This was Imilit in 1917, and “it is very modern with every labour-saving device. Every year we kill at least 250,000 sheep, 60 to 65 per cent of which are lambs, while the rest are ewes and wethers. To graze all our sheep we have six farms, and as you may imagine they are quite big. Olio covers 700,000 acres, and it carries 145,000 sheep; another is smaller, 220,000 acres, and on that 80,000 sheep are grazed. So that each year we are able to shear about 850.000 sheep ’ Then Mr Braun gave a deprecating shrug of his shoulders. “ But lie land or. those big farms, of course tis not the best.”

After telling the reporter about another farm, which was his own nrivate property, and which comprised 12/' n o acres, inclusive of 800 acres ol specially irrigated land, Mr Braun went on toi tell of his markets, and his hopes for the future. “ Everything we produce goes to London.” he exp’sitied. “and in return we buy evervthing we 'want from England—-machine! \ . special materials, and hundred and one other things.”

NEW ZEALAND AND CHILE

“i do not like to sav too much about it, but T wish that New Zealand was economically nearer my country,” said Mr Braun at another stage. “1 should like to see in the future a regular line of steamships between the Dominion and Valparaiso. ' They would carry products from both countries, and T am sure there would be plenty of scope for this. Look at the amount of tinned fruit that you buy from the United States—l am ta'king of California in particular—and the wine« you impelt from Frame, and even. I believe. Germany. You could get all these 'from us, and in exchange we would take your dairy produce—your butter. I have no hestiation in saving, moreover, that our fruits, and our wines, are good ; cud they should compete well with the North American product.” “A product of yours that w e in Chile much admire, and which up firm has been importing for over t won tv years now, is—can you guess P -sheep. Some of our best stocks

have evolved from New Zealand strains, and f am glad to see that your reputation is in no way .dwindling. We mostly buy C'orriedale rams nqd ewes, and about this 1 shouhl like to toll you a secret. Since we started intermixing our stock in the way I have told you, production of wool per sheep on our farms has gone up from oil) to 8-J to 91b.”

DEPRESSION IN SOUTH AMERICA

Mr Braun said that Chile was, in common with the rest of the world, feeling the effects of the present eeonoie depression. He explained that, as in New Zealand, the fall in prices bad caused a drop in returns, and both the big companies and the smallholders were bard bit. He was sure, however, that things would right themselves automatically in time, while costs would also adjust themselves to circumstances. In the course ot these remarks, lie drew an interesting

analogy between Chile and Canterbury. “There arc many points of similarity; apd the two territories dilfer in very few respects,” he said, “and one of the most outstanding of the latter, I suppose, would lie the matter of temperature.” Mr Braun explained—and at that moment a warm nor’-west wind was blowing—that it was much hotter in Chile. “But otherwise.” lie continued, “conditions arc very like. The basic industries are the same; the lay-out of the towns and the scenery is very similar; and blue dries and bright sunshine are the rule in both countries.