ON THE LAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 293, 24 September 1935, Page 7

ON THE LAND.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By “The Tramp”). Though there are millions of acres in Argentina suitable in the highest degree for the development of the dairying industry, writes Mr C. P. Cutler in the “Sydney Morning Herald,” the importance of the beef trade has, so far, kept this form of production subdued.

Notwithstanding the increased quantity of butter imported) into the markets of Great Britain, the exports from Argentina in 1934 aggregated only 8300 tons, • compared with 10,290 tons in 1933, 19,870 tons in 1932, and 19,000 tons in 1931. This decline in shipments, at a time when New Zealand and Australia were increasing exports, is attributed by the Argentine producers and exporters to the _ duty, amounting to 15s per cwt., levied by the British Government on foreign butter. Judging by the texture, flavour, and get-up of the butter which came under notice, Mr Butler states that, apart altogether from the diity imposed, the quality of the Argentine product is such as to make it incomparable with the top grades from Australia and New Zealand. On the other hand, the local consumption of butter has increased; but, here, too, the comparative figures with Australia and New Zealand reflect the inferior quality of the product, although some allowance must be made for the low standard of Hying of a great portion of the population, large numbers of the people not being in a position to afford butter. . o P a L C nnn sumption in 1934 totalled 1 about 24,000 tons, against 18,000 tons in 1933 arid L 4.000 tons in the previous year, ibis year’s total is equivalent to between 4lb and 51b per head of the population. In Australia and New Zealand the respective per capita consumption is 291 b and 34§lb. Casein is the most important export product associated! with the dairying industry in Argentina, the being probably equal to about threefourths of the world’s supply. In 1934 exports totalled 20,000 tons, but no record of the destination was available. In 1933 23,039 tons were shipped, Germany being the biggest buyer with 0281 tons, followed by the United States, 3171 tons, and Great Britain, 3115 tons. Until 1931 the United States were Argentina’s best customers for casein, but high duties imposed by the United States to encourage local production have had a material affect on the Argentine exports, although the decline in this respect has been more than counter-balanced 1 by the improved trade with Germany, Spain, and Italy. The production of cheese m Argentina is now only equal to the local consumption, any export trade there had been in the past for this product having been, superseded l by casern. Cheddar is the most popular type manufactured, and the quality vanes from poor to very good. Mr Butler added: “We had not the opportunity of inspecting many butter factories in Argentina, but those that did come under notice, although, not in some cases modern insofar as the plant was concerned were conducted on hygienic lines, and, in view of the poolquality of cream supplies, turned out a good second-grade butter.. We learned with surprise -that practically all the butter used' for local consumption was unsalted, the factory manageis assuring us that there was no demand for the salted article. . . During the seven weeks I was in Argentina. 1 did not eat half a pound of butter, for so insipid was the taste that even a poor-quality would have been preferable. “There is no doubt that the. possibility of expansion of the dairying industry in Argentina is enormous. Probably no country in the world has available such vast areas suitable in the highest degree for the production of dairy products; but development, as in the case -of the pig and fat lamb industry, is dependent on. the future of the chilled beef trade. Every acre now employed in the production, of beet cattle could he transformed into dairy farms and the land values and labour costs would not be one-half of those m Australia or New Zealand.. Much would have to be done toward improving the production of the herds, but, judging by the enterprise that has been exhibited by the breeders of beef cattle, improvement in this regard would, rapidly be achieved. It would also bo necessary to enforce the adoption of more hygienic methods on the dairy farms, for although there are Government regulations in existence which, if insisted on, would lead to a marked improvement in the quality of milk and. butter, there appeal’s to he a disinclination to enforce them, the fanners objecting in just the same manner as they do in some parts oi Australia.”

“Denmark is the natural larder of Britain. . . Britons have always enjoyed Danish bacon, butter and eggs. . . . Denmark is the collaborator in Britain’s expansion.” These announcements are blazoned by tho Danes in English newspapers with such prominence that they almost seem to be true (states the “Farmers Weekly”). They are proclaimed with such confidence that those middle-aged people who recall the days when these Danish products were almost unknown here begin to doubt their own memory. The Danish propaganda first began in an intensive form in the grim year of 1931, when Great Britain was struggling desperately to reduce the adverse balance of trade. It ivas conducted by a body of Danish landowners called the Twelve Men’s Union. These apostles first murmured soothingly in the ear of those politicians who still had faith in free imports. Soon their secretary was established in a London hotel. He came, of course, out of pure solicitude for British industry. Had he not been bom in England himself? He lunched at the House of Commons, and spoke seductively of markets for British goods in Denmark. Afterwards members of Parliament enjoyed lavish return hospitality in Copenhagen, and were gently chidden for their neglect to study the Danish market. These persuasive Danes were trying to answer in advance an awkward point, which was bound to come up whenever they should ask Great Britain to continue to take their produce. The point was that we already bought £.53,000,000 from them in 1930 though they took only £10,000,000 from us. With propaganda such as this the Danes prepared the ground for the Ottawa discussions. They prepared it again before the Anglo-Danish trade agreement. At the present moment their voice is uplifted louder than ever. Why? Because once more the British Government is negotiating with Denmark, this time over the imposition of bacon tariffs with increased! quotas. So the Danes take page after page of national newspapers, in which they trumpet the “world-fame” of Danish

“health-foods”—a fame so curious that the world is content to leave then all to Great Britain.