WHY ARGENTINA LEADS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 87, 11 April 1912, Page 2

WHY ARGENTINA LEADS.

IMPROVING FLOCKS AND HERDS Tho dominant position in the world’s meat markets now enjoyed by the Argentine is the result of no haphazard method ; the landowners and tho Government in that part of the globe have long been co-operating to the end now in sight, it is not so many years ago since the United States enjoyed a big hold on the London meat market, and appeared likely to keep other countries in the background. It is now history how the storage. n tho northern hajf of the American continent gave an opportunity to the southern half that was seized with both hands. The result is that Argentine is now one of the greatest factors in the world’s food supply. Not only is she prominent in tho matter of beef and mutton supplies, but she enters largely into the wheat business, and exports other products. It wheat alone her export trade amount: to upwards of 2.V million tons (not bushels); and in linseed and maize site also docs a large trade. In these cases she has the great advantage ol proximity to the hig markets, and, what is more important, to countries from which supplies of Cheap Inborn can ho secured, and returned at t lk end of the season. Site has not had t< face increases of about 100 per com in the cost of raising farm product! as is the case in some parts of Australia, and she is blessed with a Government with a keen desire to promote close settlement and farm extension. On her railways, too, soon attempt is made to carry the produce raised by the settlors, with the idea, in view that lines were built to carry produce. Constant attention is given by a highly trained agricultural staff, to methods for'improving the various industries, and only quite recently tho wheat industry had special attention, the suggestions being that rational breaking up of virgin soil, selection of crops in each zone of different periods of maturity, thus avoiding harvest work' being compulsory at the same dates, extensive experiments with cereals in each zone to select the’ one most suited to the soil and climatic conditions of each, development of agricultural co-operative societies, particularly so for the purchase of agricultural machinery and implements, provision on the railways for hulk handling of cereals, official aid in the importation and distribution of the best agricultural machinery and cooperation of .the railways in providing cheap faros! for agricultural labourers. These suggestions show that the thororughness which marked the earlier stages of the meat business and brought about such success in the- export trade is being followed but

through the other brandies oi industrial activity, and tho facts give a useful lesson to governments and officials in Australia. The outstanding fact in connectio.a with the live stock business of the Argentine has been the willingness to improve the standard of the flocks and herds, at no matter what cost. In the horse industry wealthy landowners did not allow any monetary consideration to stand in the way ol securing the best sires that the world could produce. When the Argentine set out to conquer the meat trade the same willingness to pay well for the best u asshown, and 3000 guineas was tho price paid for one good Shorthorn bull, and four figures on more than one occasion were written for others. In sheep, too, the highest prices were given for the best that Britain could produce. What applies to tho Argentine applies in a lesser degree to otner South American countries; in fact, Several arc now making such advances in the English market that Argentine is being dropped as a general term in favour of “South America.” Venezuela, Uruguay, and Patagonia have .enforce into the trade, and though there exports at present are comparatively small, they are increasing vapidly. What is important, also, the standard, while not up- to the requirements of tho Home market, is being steadily improved. At present the mutton and lamb from those countries arc being sent to Liverpool as a bettor market for that kind of produce from London. Then, again, it is only a matter of a little time when Brazil will enter largely into the -export trade in meat, so that all round the supplies from South America are likely to he very large. These facts show that Australia and New Zealand will have to put a sturdy log forward if they are going to keep a worthy place in the /world’s meat markets. The opening' of Continental countries will relieve the strain no doubt; if it were not for that, it looks as if there would have to ho great congestion in London in time to come. No doubt, also, the United States will further relievo the situation by importing a large supply of meat to make up her shortage, and in that event Australia should stand a fair show of business, as, besides being of common tongue, the journey across the water is actually less than the trip to London.