FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6997, 10 December 1909, Page 3

FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA

<JkL J " - a A i Wa i?°?' mem be r for South Sydney in the Federal House of Representatives, returned to Melbourne last-week after an absence of almost twelve mantis ''Farming en the higjhej land in the Orange Biver Colony and the Transvaal is being carried on on rather an extensive scale," ho remarked to an interviewer. "For this purpose a large number of blood stock is being imported from Australia. Sheep seem to do fairly well there, but further north great difficulty is experienced in carrying on farming or pastoral operations, owing to the presence of stock diseases. So far as prospective settlement is concerned, it is unfortunate that most of the land available in South Africa is in the area affected by disease The Government is spending a great deal of money in the attempt -to eradicate it, but it will be years be-

fore it can 'be guaranteed that the northern district is free from disease. I found jiif-tL there who had ventured their all in stocking up farms, and v/ho, in one season, lost everything owing to sickness. C|uit<; a number of Australians who. just after tlio war, went to the health- districts, are doing well. Thev introduced a much higher class ot stock. Still there are ethers who have not been nearly so fortunate. One, a Quoonslandor'. purch-i.sed what looked like a fertile farm from a li-oer. It was not in any way developed and .he was able to pot it cheaply. He stocked the place heavily, but. in one season he lost overv head, and had to start from scratch again. Mcst of them have- como to tho conclusion that Australia is a good deal better country to live in than South Africa."