ARGENTINE PROGRESS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 March 1925, Page 3

ARGENTINE PROGRESS.

DAIRYING DEVELOPMENT. KEEN STUDY OF METHODS. The progress of the Argentine as a primary producing, country was outlined to a New Zealand Herald reporter by Mr. \V. Reynolds, a New Zealander, who left about 19 years ago to try his fortunes there, and now has a ranch in the Cordoba Province. He is visiting relatives in New Zealand. The Argentine lias now a very firm hold on the Home markets for butter, cheese, grain, and cattle, Mr. Reynolds said. The Argentine farmers had nothing to learn in the producing of grain and in the rearing of cattle, but they were exceedingly interested in Dominion methods of butter-making. The butter industry was a comparatively new one, and it was realised that to get the best results the " very best quality was required. Mr. Reynolds recalled the time during his early days iii the Argentine when butter was an “extra” and a luxury. In the hotels and on the trains it was not provided unless asked • for. Now, the internal consumption was great, as in the case of all the primary products, and although perhaps the Argentine was not increasing her exports as might be expected, this factor had to be kept in view.

“I think the Argentine products will become the greatest competing factor on the English markets,” he continued. “Labour, rents and land are very cheap and consequently we can turn out a cheaper article than the Dominion. The land is naturally rich and practically no manure is required. \Ye are only three weeks away from London, and the shipments ’ are frequent and regular.”

“New Zealand has not- yet felt Argen_ tine competition to any great extent, but the strain will, he felt. Af the present time the world’s markets can consume everything produced, but if there were ever a glut and it came to downright bedrock competition, I feel sure New Zealand would never stand up to it on account of high land values, the high cost of labour, and the consequent high cost of production and distance from the great market centres. I do not think, however, that such a time will come. The world’s population is always increasing. .“The Government and the farmers of the Argentine fully realise the importance of the primary /product, and no money is spared for improvements, and any knowledge that may help. The country is immensely wealthy. More creameries are being established ; better internal transport facilities are being provided in the shape of roads; and the man on the land is being encouraged in every conceivable manner. Recently an Australian dairy authority was brought into the country to show the Cover nine nt experts how to grade dairy cows ? and to improve the methods of milking and of handling milk generally.”

There was very keen competition in the meat trade between American and British firms, and the grazier received the benefit of this in high prices for his stock. As- an indication of the immense possibilities of the country, there had recently been a big deveiopme.nl in the cotton industry in the.; north. Much capital was being put into the ventfire. The Argentine was not afflicted with the weevil disease prevalent among the cotton-growing lands of North America. Prices were so encouraging that keen interest was beingtaken in the industry. “During the last 19 years I have seen ' the Argentine gro\v immensely; and I feel sure the country will continue to grow,” concluded ‘Mr. Reynolds. “Im time to come there i s nothing to stop her from becoming one of the greatest- primary producing countries in the world, with quality as 'her password.”