PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN U.S.A.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16960, 8 October 1920, Page 7

PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN U.S.A.

MEAT AND WOOL POSSIBILITIES.

ME A. BOTLB INTERVIEWED.

Mr A. Boyle, of Cnristehurch, who returned this week from an visit to the United States and to British Columbia, gave a representative of "The Press" yesterday some interesting impressions of American affairs v.-h.i'h c-.mo under his observation. Mr B:yle left tho Dominion early in June, and, in addition to visiting Br : tl«h Columbia, he visited the following States: Washington, Montana. Idaho. Oregon. Wyoming, Nevada, California, I'olorado, Xorr.h and South Dnkota, Vtih, iVpbrn-kn, lowa, and Arizona.

Trn.le cnnditir.ns, Jfr Boy'c snid, were good, but a great deal of trade will; being held up awaiting the result of tho Presidential elections, appeved to bo plentiful; in fact, it required to be, because the cost of living was so otiv.ordinr.rily high. An to Anglo-American feeling, in the? West, where the peon'e were Fupno'rd to l>: , more fuitn.rnnistic to Britain than i" the East, Mr Bryle found that though the people were somewhat loalous of Great Britain's trade, there was universal admiration for British justice and law. and also for the national code of honour, especially in sporting matters Where Americans were gathered in conference their sentiments were, probably, not so nro-Bntish ns were the opinions expressed by individual Americans. The individual American, while recognising that Great Britain had very often bested America in trade matters, realised the honesty of purposo a.nd justice of Britishers. One matter thtvt perturbed the American was the British hold over the oil of the world. Sir Eiie Geddes, in a speorh delivered roots after his arrival in Ameiica, stated that the ideas prevalent in the United States on this aspect of the subjert were fallacious, and that Great Britain only owned practically 7 per cent, of the world's oil; but the Africans claim that though Groat Britain migiit only own the percentage stated by Sir Eric, she held vast oiFields were stll undeveloped. British law provided that no alien should be allowed to purchase oudelds ii: British possessions, and thnt not more than 20 per cent, of the shares in any comnn.ny might bo held by others th'nn BrVsh subjects. This law naturally affected the Americana materially, and thev had no lnw which provided 'similar safeguards. When Mr Wilson went to France in connexion with the Le.igurt of Nations, he wns pressed to endeavour to have this matter put right, but he refused to bring any commercial matters into the dis-fuseji-in. As to the possibility of tho Treaty being ratified by tho Fmttri States. Mr Boyle fonnd that -,t «'as. most 'liffKi'll to obtnr any decided opinion. The Presidential election wa« being fought in tho keenest possible spirit, and "the opinion in the Wc-Rtcrn States was that the Republican cnndidite, /Mr Harding, would be elected. He hnd few opportunities of getting the opinion of the Eastern States, but there was most certainly a very strong feeling all over. £"encß •idverso to any support of Mr Wilson s general policy. . . "As. to meat, tho question is a. most dnnserous one to touch on at tho present moment," said Mr Boyle. /There is no doubt whatever What America cannot supply herself with meat, and mustlook to other countries for both beet and mutton. Naturally, she t«r».<? to South America., but ns far ns I could gather she- roalises that Australia aJid New Zealand must be looked to in the future for stippliee. Last winter was a particularly bad ono in America, and tlio rough spring experienced brought about the worst lambing ever known in tho stock-rai.Mng States. There is no doubt tbat even the small supply sent up to tho present from New Zealand materially" affected the market. The stock-raisers had anticipated very much .higjher prices as a result of the shortage of home supplies, but the shipment of New Zealand lamb, if it did not lower the market, prevented any rise in values. The seasons in America being the exact opposite of ours, it pears that America could take a fair quantity of our lambs during tho American winter months without in any way affecting tho value of meat raised in tlhe States.

"The wool markot at the present moment is in a shaky state. Many woollen factories are closed, and tho prices for this year's clip are fully 50 per cent, below the prices obtained last* season, and very little has boon sold. Auction sales practically do not exist, and nearly all clips are bought privately. Several big ranch-holders are in favour of auction sales, and of a proper marketing of their wool; but at present the old system prevails of privato purchase. The wool-producers have been hard hit by their great losses during the last winter, and by the refusal of the banks to make advances against the present clip." To meet the high cost of woollen goods, Mr Boyle stated, there was an inclination in various States for tflie ranch-holders to start their own woollcvn mills and mill their own wools. He thought that there should be an opening for the finer New Zealand wools on tho American market, and was strongly of opinion that there was a good market for New Zealand manufactured woollen goods. The class of SLieep bred in America hardly appealed to a New Zealunder. They uad some fine merinos—Kanibouhiefc meriuos—and they crossed ' their surplus ewes principaJJy with Hampshire l)owii3, Cotswolds, and ltomney Marsh. Many ranch holders were greatly impressed with tlie Corrie- j dale breed, and were likely to draw upon New Zealand for stock of this class A few breeders were starting on a Lincoln-Merino cross, but the .English Leicester was almost unknown. As compared with New Zealand, sheep raising in the States was expensive; all sheep were herded, and t«e usual practice- was to have- one herd to every 2DOO sheep, iUr Boyle was struck by the vast areas in some of the States ho visited thnt appeared to bo barren country, but he was informed that with irrigation they were capable of producing any class of crop. Lucerne was a big factor in supplying winter feed in practically all the States ho visited. He was astonished to find sunflowers grown extensively as a crop for silos; they provided very fattening feed. Touching upon the effect of the prohibition law in the States, Mr Boyle said that, taken as a whole, as far as the public sale of liquor was concerned, the law was generally observed, except in certain out-of-the-way pla:es. But liquor could be obtained practically in any town, but at very high pneosPrivate individuals, as a rule, haa liquor in their houses—both wines ana spirits—but they were under the necessity of guarding it very carefully. Many devices had to bo adopted to prevent private stores of liquor being raided--iiot bv the officers of the law or by prohibitionists, but by men m search or liquor for their own consumption. in some households the liquor was kept in a proper steel safe. . One honsehoWer showed him a safe with a double door, and remarked that lie expected that it would be dynamited "Lulled recorJe-f raids on stores of liquor m Priva£: houses. Contrary tcf-ggjg tions, the grape growers <» f Cahfonm. instead of being.ruined bv the tion hw were doing about tnree uw

duced to a form permitting its transport to France and Spiin. Dealing with other subjects, Mr Boyle said that there was an impression the price of motor-rnrs in tho States would fall consequent upon the beina supplied. There was a plso. the nrice of all machinery would drop. He thought t'lfi.t thoro vere big npsnrturvt'Vs for re-. : pr"?nl trade between tho Strtf?= nr-l New Zealand. There nppcared little ;'n:;bt that there p?; : Fird a strode de= : re to ro'tri-t the influx of jßuanc=e. but no policy to efte-t it was yet ready.