THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1900.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 64, 13 September 1900, Page 4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1900.

THE ARGENTINE COMPETITION. $ The producers in the colonies have been frequently warned that tho Argentine Republic was a formidable competitor in the world's market,. and that soonea' or later the effect of this competition would bo severely felt. It is hardly possible to get a whole community to realise this competition, for it cannot be practically demonstrated out here. All that can bo done is to produce such facts and figures as are available from time to time. There is no question that in pastoral products, such as frozen meat, butter, and cheese, New Zealand holds the foremost place, and there is also no disputing the fact that this country possesses many natural advantages denied to the South American^ Republic ; bub industry and enterprise can discount such advantages, and, moreover, the Argentine has some resources that in a- measure compensate her. It is a question whether, with these resources .and with industiy and enterprise, the Argentine will not outstrip us in the rac?. It is as well to examine tho position. The seasons in Australasia and the Argentine are tho same, so that the produce from both places reach the market at about the &umo time, and come into direct • competition. Argentina starts with tho advantage of situation ; it is nearer the market, which means a good deal. Freights 'are less, more produce can be shipped in a given time, and the risk of deterioration to perishable produce is small. The climate is, perhaps, not- quite equal to our own, still it is a very fine Climate, and in any case the refrigerator reduces climate to a dead level. Tho fertility of soil over the entire area is probably not as good as in New Zealand, but tho enormous extent of country and tho steady improvement in the methods of farming mak© up for this. Labour is infinitely cheaper in the Republic than 1 in the colonies, while land values . nre entirely in favour of our competitor. Thus the Argentine has the advantage of cheap land, cheap labour, and nearness to the market, while New Zealand may claim superiority of climate and soil. If the Republic had to rely u.pon. its own population for its development we should 'probably have no occasion to fear tho competition ; but, unfortunately for us, the Argentine is being developed with British capital and with British industry and enterprise, and being a field that can be profitably exploited, it offers great attractions. Captain A. W. Pearse, of Sydney, who is well known in connection with the pastoral interest of Australia, spent several weeks lately in Argentina studying the methods there, and has been much impressed with the increasing strength of the competition from that quarter. Captain Pearse, on his arrival in England, Avas interviewed by a representative of the British Australian, and it is clear from what he states that not only are tho best methods being adopted for improving the quality and increasing the quantity of produce, but the assistance rendered by the Republican Government to the producers is also of a commendable character. A steady and persistent effort is being made to improve the flocks and herds of the Republic, and it was one of the objects of Captain Pearse's visit to arrange lor the save of high-class pedigree stock from Australia. Fifteen hundred guineas is nothing for the South American estancicros to give for a good bull, and high prices arc freely paid for stud sheep. The carrying capacity of the land is being steadily increased by substituting alfalfa, or lucerne, for native grasses. With cheap labour the change from one kind of pasture to another is easily accomplished, and this is being rapidly done. Tho management of the properties is being freely entrusted to Britishers. Captain Pearse says: — "I must frankly say that I was .never more proud of being a Britisher than I was during my Irave.s through the Plate. An Englishman — whethei he be an Australian, New Zealander or Canadian — is tiusled everywhere, and the natives endeavoui to get Britishers to manage theii properties." According to Captain 'Pearse, evtry pre- : caution is taken that nothing but tht best is exported from the country. Government veterinary surgeons are to be found at the various meat freezing establishments, and, what is more, an English butcher is to be found at all these works to see that the meat is killed and dressed to suit the British markets. In respect of railway facilities and methods tho Argentine 'is said to be far in advance of Australasia. While with us the loading

is done from, tho sides of the trucks, in the Argentine the loading is done from tho end, the tail-board forming a platform. Again, in the Argentine, they have a law that no stock is allowed in the train more than thirty hours, otherwise they have to ba removed at the expense of the ' railway companies and fed and watered, and in the Republic stock cars take precedence of all other trains. This systematic organisation, which is being carried. out with energy and with small regard to expense, must in tho long-run have its effect, and however much we may chooso to disregard the competition of the River Plate and discount her resources and advantages, the fact remains that sho is to-day our most formidable opponent in trade, and is steadily and surely gaining ground. Whether tho Argentine wili eventually cut us out of tho European markets remains to be seen, and Captain Pearse, in answei' to a direct question on tho point, said — "On that point all I would wish to say is that the democratic legislation of Australia, to my thinking, if carried out, will give the Argentine a long lead in tho march of progress. There is no harassing legislation in the shape of constantly reappraising rims or rack-renting in Argentina. , Everything is dono in the River Plate to help tho producing interests, and my opinion is that the various Governments of Australia would do woil to send representatives there to lcam how to govern tho country in the producing interest." The ascendancy of Argentina may be rendered impossible by the adoption in tho colonies of commonsense methods, both on the part of the producers and the Governments, in dealing with the agricultural and pastoral interests, and this will be forced upon us so6ner' or iater. We shall nob reach the goal by seeking to limit the profits of freezing- companies, nor through, the posing of politicians who pretend to suffer from Qi keen sense of the wrong and injustice dono to the producers. Wo want less of tho personal and more of the national idea in dealing with the great agricultural and pastoral industries of Hew Zealand, and, above ail, we want common sense infused into the methods.