GOING HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 161, 9 July 1940, Page 8

GOING HOME.

URUGUAYAN CONSUL.

./-.FARMING INVESTIGATIONS. '■%'? '■' '■'"' ■ ~ :;:IMPKESSIONS OF DOMINION. ■■;•<■■ . '. ■. ' WJAfter- spending nearly a year In the Dominion.(is Consul for Uruguay, Honor J\....irane' Kin, whose headquarters have been in Wellington, is now in Auckland, and ready,to leave in a few days' tine on his return to his native land.

In an interview this morning he said he hail found Kew Zetland a very friendly country. He had nude a special study of agriculture, as in this respect the Dominion had many points in common with Uruguay. He added tha"t Uruguay was about the fame eizo as the Smith Island of Xew Zealand and most of it was tindulatin" land, which was intensely fanned. The chief products were wool" and stock and large quantities of fruit werfi also grown. It had the advantage, like the Argentine, of being close to' the gront world markets, and ae a result meat in a chilled state could reach Great Britain or Europe in about a couple of weeks. Their dairying hnd rapidly expanded in recent years. The principal breeds of cattle were Shorthorns, i'ricsians and KonnandQ, a breed of French cattle. The favoured beef strain were Horefords and, to some extent, Shorthorns.

Referring to the possibilities of reciprocal trade, the Consul said that Uruguay sought stud sheep from New Zealand in order to improve their breeds, and he considered that there, should also be a market for seed potatoes and apples. One of the principal things that Uruguay had to offer in return was linseed. However, at the present time shipping arrangements were not altogether suitable, as there was no direct service between the tivo countries. From observations throughout tho Dominion lie considered that New Zealand stock, particularly dairy stock, was of a very high standard indeed, and he. contrasted -working conditions, ns in his country the peasantry work from daylight to dark,' seven days a week. The Consul said that Xew Zealand had wonderful natural advantages. Uruguay had to import oil and coal, but in the interior country, on the Black River, a huge hydro scheme had been planned, and it was considered there would Ik suflicient electricity to supply not only Urnguay, but also portions of'the Argentine and Brazil as veil. There was a great deal of British capital invested in the country ami a large British population, although it was mainly centred in the main city of Montevideo, and conlcctcd with commercial enterprises. In conclusion, Sir. Mane Xin said he had not been able to see all of New Zealand, but he would take home with him the wannest recollection of a very fine people. He could tell them, in return, that the people of Uruguay held the British Empire in the highest rcard.