PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21968, 27 November 1934, Page 5

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S AIM - LESSONS FROM ABROAD Commissioned by the South Australian Government to inquire into the production and marketing methods employed in the primary industries of New Zealand, South America and South Africa, Mr. W. J. Spafford, deputy-Director of Agriculture for South Australia, and Colonel C. P. Butler, agricultural editor of the Advertiser, Adelaide, arrived by the Monowai yesterday from Sydney. Colonel Butler is also representing other Australian newspapers. Mr. Spafford said both he and Colonel Butler \yere extremely interested in the operation of the New Zealand Meat Board. A large section of the producers in Australia had been attracted by it, particularly by the marketing methods employed, and would like to see a similar organisation introduced into their States. As was the case in New Zealand, primary producers in Australia had seriously felt the effects of foreign competition and low prices during recent years, and the South Australian Government intended to leave no stone unturned in an effort to re-establish primary industries. Colonel Butler said they were both anxious to lose no time in reaching Wellington, where they would confer with the Government. On the way south, however, they would make an investigation of conditions and farming methods in the Waikato, on the East Coast and in Hawke's Bay. From Wellington they would go to the South Island. They would then return to Auckland and sail by the Tonic on December 8 for Valparaiso. Three months would be spent in South America, investigating all phases of primary production —meat, wool, cereals and fruit. On the return voyage to Australia they would visit South Africa and remain there some weeks investigating principally different aspects of the wool and fruit industries.

Accompanying Mr. Spafford and Colonel Butler is Mr. W. H. Flannagan, a well-known South Australian business man, who is making the trip as a tourist.