LIVE STOCK

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1938, Page 4

LIVE STOCK

EMBARGO ON IMPORTATIONS.

NAPIER, November 28.

A note of pessimism as to the future of New Zealand beef on the English market as a result of the present embargo upon the importation of stock from England is struck by Mr J. A MacFarlane, of Napier, the wellknown proprietor of the stud cattle farm, Taumangi, at Putaruru, who has just returned to Hawke’s Bay from a six months’ tour of England and Scotland, where he travelled 8000 miles by car, visiting six shows'and various stud farms in order to purchase fresh stock for his stud. Mr MacFarlane drew a parallel between Argentine beef and the New Zealand product, stating that until the Government lifted the embargo, New Zealand’s beef would not conform to Home standards.

“We must get the embargo off and import more stock before we can hope to reach the Home standard,” he said. “We cannot keep up with Argentine standards because the JSoutJi American farmers get the pick, of the bulls and cows in England,” he continued. “For years they have been getting the finest of stud stock and on that account their meat is ahead of ours. We are the only country in the world which has an embargo on stock." Mr MacFarlane pointed out that under the embargo cattle cost four times as much to import as it did previously. “It is material to the future of trade,” he said. _ “The importer has to pay from 400 to 500 guineas for a bull and as a result, few are able to ’ make purchases. If there were no embargo £BO would be the cost of a beast. “The Home beef market means a tremendous amount to New Zealand,” he continued, “and if we don’t keqp up the standard the Argentine, it is evident, will get the trade.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. “We have been importing stock into New Zealand," he stated talking of the dreaded foot and mouth disease, “and veterinarians say that there is not the slightest chance of the contagion being introduced by a live animal. The life of the germ Is only 14 days and the journey out is six weeks."

He then stated that he had visited Smithfield while at Home and had seen Argentine and New Zealand beef hanging side by side on the hooks. In comparison, he said the New Zealand product completely lacked quality. Mr MacFarlane then emphasised as a warning to those interested in the industry in New Zealand, the fact that the Australian Government was making a great effort to capture the English beef trade. “The Australian Government although it has no embargo on stock, is actually subsidising its importation,” he said. '“The Australian |Government has -worked out a scheme regardingFche importation of pedigree stock,” he stated, “whereby the following rates of subsidy will be paid to an applicant who desires to import stock:—* Cattle £5O per head, sheep £2O per head, pigs £25 per head and milch goats £2O per head.” “Subject to certain conditions,” he continued, /“the subsidy will be paid equally by the Commonwealth Government, the Commonwealth Bank

and the State Government in the State of import. “The shipping companies have agreed to carry the stock freight free but will charge actual out-of-pocket expenses,” he said. Concluding Mr MacFarlane read excerpts from a report on the English meat markets made by Mr F. M. Bell for the Australian Government.

The portions read were as follows: “For years Argentine producers have bought bulls in England—the best in that country. The importation of well-bred stock has been one of the chief factors in to-day’s high standard of Argentine cattle. On the other hand, Australian importations have been negligible, due in part to the high cost of transport." This was also true of New Zealand, Mr MacFarlane said. “I am informed,” Mr Bell’s report continues, “that although Argentine stud stock compare favourably with those in the United Kingdom it has been found that to maintain constitution it is still necessary to import freely from British stud herds." ■ ' ’

The report then urged the Importation of stud stock to Australia.

Touching on New Zealand* beef Mr Bell’s report stated that the shipments were spasmodic and the beef’s condition variable.

“It is evident,” Mr MacFarlane continued, “that while New Zealand is still labouring under the embargo the rest of the world is realising the value of stud importations.” While in England Mr MacFarlane purchased five pedigree Aberdeen Angu s bulls, two of which are descendants of champion bulls sent -to the Argentine. They will be arriving in New Zealand during next year after the quarantine regulations have . been fulfilled.