STUD STOCK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1938, Page 3

STUD STOCK

IMPORTS FROM GREAT BRITAIN GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY WANTED “That owing to the tremendous necessity for the improvement of our stock to meet overseas competition the Government be asked to subsidise the cost of approved stud stock from Great Britain, as is being done in Australia.” This motion, moved by Sir William Perry, was carried by the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand at its annual meeting in Wellington yesterday. “When we take into account the importance of the meat industry to New Zealand and the competition we are facing overseas, we must realise that we are not doing what we should,” said Sir William. “Not only is no assistance given to importers of stud stock, but everything seems to be done to hinder them.”

Australia, he added, was fighting to get possession of the British market, and had improved the quality of its meat. In certain breeds of sheep New Zealand was well ahead, but further importations of first-class Southdowns were a pressing necessity. It was in beef cattle, however, that improvement was most needed. The eating qualities of New Zealand chilled beef were well spoken of in'Britain, but the average carcase was far from perfect. Sir William said that a Southdown ram, bought in England for £3OO, cost £5lO by the time it reached New Zealand. Cattle, bought in Scotland for £6O 18s, cost £214 3s 9d by the time they reached New Zealand.

Sir Heaton Rhodes endorsed Sir William’s remarks. The cost of importing stock was almost prohibitive, he said.