ARGENTINE EXPANSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15514, 22 January 1914, Page 6

ARGENTINE EXPANSION.

The accumulating evidence that the civilised world is approaching the limits of its food supplies, and that increased prices must rule until the point is reached where an equilibrium is maintainable between "Town" and "Country" has removed any fear of disastrous competition between food-exporting territories. There is no longer any suggestion that New Zealand may be exposed to loss by the greater exports of countries like the Argentine Republic. Our farmers can confidently rely upon obtaining the best prices ruling in a buoyant world-market as long as they supply high-class and attractive produce-

Their rivalry is with the intelligent and progressive Danes for the blue ribbons of the butter-trade and with the skilled stock-breeders of Australia for the best prices paid by buyers in England and America. The great expansion of the Argentine has thus become a matter of friendly interest rather than of timid concern, for it is gratifying to know that the civilised world is still able to draw upon vast resources in its gigantic effort to feed the multitudes of raillioued-citics and swarming manufacturing districts. Between 1903 and 1912—according to the latest official returns—the international trade of the Argentine increased by over £100,000,000, its increase rate of 145 per cent, being the greatest in the world. During 1912, the Argentine headed the list for export of frozen meat, was second only to New Zealand in the export of frozen mutton, was easily first as an exporter of maize and trod on the heels of Canada in the matter of wheat. Taking cereals and meat in the aggregate Argentine alone supplied 36 per cent, of British imports, and drew £32,000,000 from our Mother Country. British exports to the Argentine exceeded £21,000,000 in value, while American exports were below £11,000,000. These figures convey a very impressive idea of the progress made by the greatest agricultural state in South America and show that only the unanticipated and insatiable demand of civilisation for food has prevented its vast output from very seriously depressing prices.