The Hawera Star. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1934. GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND CATTLE IMPORTATIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 March 1934, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1934. GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND CATTLE IMPORTATIONS.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clook in Hawerv, Mauaia, Kaupokonui. Otakebo Oeo. Plhair.a, Opunake, Normaeby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Nifoere. Mangatoki. Kaponga. swatuna. Te Kiri, Maboe, Lowgarth, Manutahi, Kakaramea, Alv>n. HurlevviLo, Patea, Whenuakura, Waverley, Mok-ia, Whakamara, Obangai. Meromei ?. Fraser Road and Ararata

Lord Bledisloe made it clear, in. his speech to farmers at the opening of the A. and P. Show at New Plymouth, that he has not deviated one hair’s-breadth from his conviction that this Dominion is making a great mistake in maintaining the ban against the importation of stud stock from United Kingdom. The Governor-General hats uttered advice on this subject on many occasions anil, in the main', the arguments for and against the lifting of the embargo arc fairly generally known, if not always completely understood. At New Plymouth, however, his Excellency, speaking more as a successful breeder and

an authority on stock than as the

King’s representative, introduced a new

feature of the case for the lifting of, the ban —or, if not exactly a new feature, one that has lately leapt into greater prominence; that was, the prospects now opening up for the Dominions in relation to the chilled beef trade. As Lord Bledisloe reminded his Australia is setting itself out to capture a greater share of this trade from the Argentine. What is New Zealand doing? It is admitted that New Zealand has a good deal to do before she can claim rivalry with Australia as a .regular exporter of prime young beef of uniform quality. Beef cattle raising has not been the major pastoral pursuit of this country. We can, on occasion, send forward a 9 nice a line of beef as even London could wish, but occasional supplies mean nothing to a market which absorbs huge weekly quantities. To be a factor in this market an exporting country must be able to send forward supplies regularly and otf consistent quality. But because New' Zealand cannot take a large share in this trade immediately is no reason why she should do nothing about it. •Enterprising graziers 'with the requisite class of country .arc. certain to turn their atteriition to the beef market, and, if- they have learnt anything from the experiences of the dairy industry during the last few' years, they will realise at the outset that they will 'have to supply the class of meat the consumers at Home demand. The class of cattle that has been used for breaking in rough country in this Dominion is not going to supply the British demand for “ibaby beef.” The future of the .chilled beef trade, as far as this Dominion is concerned', lies in the hands of the cattle breeders. The maintenance of the restrictions upon importations of stud stock is undoubtedly goting to prove a heavy 'handicap upon New Zealand in the race for the beef market and it is obviously time for the Dominion as a wdiole to take a wider view r of the whole question. Great Britain is the stud farm of the w'Orld —and New Zealand! is the only country in the would which refuses to admit her stock because of a very wholesome fear of the introduction of foot and mouth disease. 'Some very weighty arguments can be .produced in favour of the maintenance of the ban, but none that will 1 withstand the sound reasoning that has been brought to bear on the subject by the Gover-nor-General. ’ There is a growing number of cattle breeders in the Dominion who favour the removal of the embargo (under suitable quarantine conditions) and among them are men w r ho aver that the total prohibition of importations is no guarantee that foot-and-mouth disease will never enter this country. It may yet be necessary for the Government to give the Dominion a lead towards the solution of this highly controversial problem. At the recent Royal Show .the Prime Minister made a very guarded' reference to it and indito those who. cared to read between the lines, that the Government is [ not at all certain that the ban can be justified, nor that its maintenance is in the best interests of the Dominion.