HAPPY COUNTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22866, 22 October 1937, Page 14

HAPPY COUNTRY

ARGENTINA'S PROGRESS

BEEF AND LAMB INDUSTRIES COMPETITION FOR DOMINION After a visit to Buenos Aires, where he judged the Lincoln, Romney Marsh, Corriedale and Southdown sheep at the annual show, Mr. Ernest St. Clair Haydon, of Methven, Canterbury, returned on the Rangitiki yesterday with the impression that New Zealand never would approach the Argentine ior the quality of its beef. He added that the j Argentine was concentrating upon tlio production of fat lambs of prime quality and would become a serious competitor with New Zealand. The meat industry there was very highly organised, and in two of the larger works there was a killing capacity of 5000 cattle, 10,000 sheep and 2000 pigs a day. Mr. Haydon lived in the Argentine for many years. He said that in recent years the South American countries had progressed at an astonishing rate, and outside countries, especially Great Britain, had invented enormous sums ol' money in tlin different industries. The show at Buenos Aires this year illnstratel very well the degree of prosperity of the Argentine. The number of entries was enormous, and it required four days of hard work for him to judge those in the four sheep sections in which lie was interested. The quality of sheep had greatly improved since he was there nine years ago, and were classified mainly into two groups, the English type and the New Zealand. The Dominion type was much the best represented, said Mr. Haydon, and the majority of the exhibits were magnificent specimens. In his view, the main reason for prosperity in South America was the doubtful condition of Europe. 1 his had prompted a number of the world s major financial institutions to pour money into South America, which, seemed to be the land of opportunity for investors. They had made a great deal of money through the agency of a favourable exchange rate between the Argentino and Europe, and naturally there was a good deal of fluid capital available. Given the' many natural advantages for raising cattle and sheep, the proximity to the English markets and much capital, there seemed every prospect of flourishing years for the Argentine, as well as serious competition for NewZealand.