BRITAIN WORLD’S STUD FARM

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14859, 22 December 1948, Page 5

BRITAIN WORLD’S STUD FARM

restocking continental « COUNTRIES

HELPING TO CLOSE THE DOLLAR GAP

The immediate post-war task ol assisting Continental countries to re-stock is in the main completed, said Mr A. G. Bromley. Secretary lor Overseas Trade, to the Livestock Exnort Group recently. “Britain has been described as the stud farm of the world.” he continued. “The traditional high duality of British breeds of cattle and livestock helos to maintain the reputation of British products in general throughout the world. “Prior to the war exports of livestock ran at under £750,000 pei annum. The growth of exports from the war-time and earlv post-war levels is shown by latest figures. By 1945 exports showed modest increase over pre-war, but in 1948 they rose tn £3.750.000. The 1947 figure was £3 574,000, and the first threequarters of 1948 already shew a tota. of £3,200 000. . . , . “The Group might be reminded of the necessity to improve this country’s balance of payments position with hard currency countries, particularly in the Western Hemisphere. Exports to those countries last year totalled less than £400,000. “Special difficulties due to quarantine regulations and the development of local breeding may have to be overcome, but exports of livestock can play an important part in the battle to close the dollar gap.