Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1927, AN INDUSTRY OF POTENTIAL VALUE.

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1927, Page 4

Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1927, AN INDUSTRY OF POTENTIAL VALUE.

The time was not long since When a ’possum up a tree was no more for a West Coaster than a colloquialism indicative of a tight corner, but in recent years it has come to signify an industry of great potentiality. If there is any economic theory well authenticated it is that the value of an industry is ultimately determinable by its adaptability to the natural conditions of a locality, and, as yesterday demonstrated in our columns by an authority on

the acclimatisation and commercial exploitation of opossums, the West (’oast is second to no other part of the world in its suitability for the raising of opossums on a large scale. The skins grow here to finer qualify than anywhere else, the marsupials thrive in our indigenous forests to the Utmost, and the ideal conditions existing are undoubtedly permanent. Therefore the organisation of a trade of which Ihe returns, in view of the rapid and sustained rise in skin values, is scarcely yet calculable, is a venture wholly within the ability of human agency, and one calling only for prudent and adequate co-opera-tion. An assured revenue of a quarter of a million is certainly no remote possibility. As the ground remains clear to breed only the best commercial species, with natural river divisions to preserve the most profitable varieties, it is simply a matter of acclimatisation, and the royalty returns already afford the means to do the work. From Tasmania the black, superblue, and silver-grey species may be imported, and with segregation and protection would soon provide oh the Coast a hundred thousand skins yearly, worth anything up to £50,000. Now that the Forest Service counts the ’possum not to be an enemy, the possible loss from depredations by these animals must be insignificant compared with the possible gains from the industry. The action, therefore. of the local Chamber of Commerce in urging the Government to secure the best species and foster their breeding on the West Coast is far-sighted, and deserves to be given immediate effect. If it is, there is scarcely any region to rival the West Coast in the ’possum skin trade. At the same time, there are, however, many places where commercial people are able to outdo West Coasters in exploiting the trade, because a big rake-off is being so far secured by outsiders who come here to buy up the output. . Thus there is the need to organise not only the raising of the product but the selling of it, The authority _mentioii'ed recommends an association of the trappers, which Would be

able to function as a inarekting pool, financing the individual trapper until his returns come to hand. There is at least a couple of thousand square miles of West Coast territory adapted for this industry. It is calculated to find seasonal employment for hundreds of men. It holds out a prospect better than any other in sight at present of turning non-productive territory to very profitable use. And, finally, its development would be the work of Nature itself, the only other requisite being proper regulation to restrict trapping to prudent dimensions, and to the proper age for taking skins, as well as to prevent extermination by poison or other short-sighted expedients. There seems to be no reason why steps should not I now be taken to set the industry on a lasting footing by establishing the best varieties of opossums here, and ending such impediments as the restriction on the importation of such varieties which vet hamper the growth of a trade probably of vast profit for the West Coast.