NEW ZEALAND AND THE ARGENTINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7075, 12 March 1910, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND AND THE ARGENTINE

SOME INTERESTING COMRARISONS. ■ Mr.'Oswald K. Throp, well-known in New Zealand, writing to a friend in ,'Wcllinjrtou from C’nscroo, Argentina, pays;— | Sine© being in Buenos Aires I have 'attended some stud stock sales and scon wliat quality of stock is being im•ported. hero from .England, and also locally-bred stock, and have now some .idea of how the New Zealand studs wold compete among them. Beginning with cattle, the chief industry of this country, I am perfectly euxo-Now Zealand would not bo able to give satisfaction, as here they have some beautiful boasts for beef breeding.- Tho Shorthorn is very, much the favourite breed, but in tho Hereford* and Polled Angus, the hitter of which is extensively used; sumo hulls that would make an impression hero could bo found on the late James Holmes's Waimahaka Estate and at GlacLbrooko for Black Angus. They .would have to bo very well grown, and in tip-top condition, and of extremely ‘high quality, or they may as well bo •left in New* Zealand: in fact it doesn’t ‘matter what class of stock you jrnight intend to send, this remark applies to all, horses and cheep, etc. ’DAIRYING CATTLE. In the Shorthorn, however, there is nothing in Now Zealand, to my mind, that would be ■wanted over here. In dairying cattle, however, things aro 'more hopeful, ms the Argentina is just on the eve of considering this importiant question, and has therefore nothing worthy of note in this country yet. pf, however, Argentina should go' in for this industry, I should bo disappointed if New Zealand was not on a satisfactory footing to be able to. ex-’ port a good strain of milkers to this country. At the present time there are only one or two breeders in New* Zealand who go in for really tip-top strains such as it would only pay to ship here. That the dairying industry ,-is starting hero there- is no mistaking. One place hero ’milks ioOO cows, and tb© wav they do things in tills country, that mimbm- will soon be increased, as creameries are already working. It is only u matter of a year or tlwo ‘ and this country will come into competition with Now Zealand butter, as it did with New Zealand mutton on the Homo market. SHEEP. Taking sheep next-in importance to cattle, Sow Zealand is far ahead of the Argentine in quality and variety „ .and need never fear having to stoop to second place for quality. * There is one breed here only, and that f is tho Lincoln. This sheep is rnost extensively used, and tor various reasons. Tho Argentina > likes size in joverytiiiag, and tho bigger his sheep •are the more ho is satisfied. With size. . however, one cannot expect choice, fine wool or mutton, and this ds where Now Zealand is out on her jown. Another reason, and one more jin favour of the Lincoln than some ;ofcher breeds, is that tho lambs withstand disease bettor. A disease is among lambs hero to such an extent that on some cstantias it is vffery difficult to increase the stock. JEh© Romney, however, withstands this •disease very well, but it is not quite \as big an animal.as tho Lincoln, and •is therefore not in great demand. /Another sheen used hero is the /Southdown, but not to any (extent, and others I never hear tmentioned are English and Border Leicostcrs, Corricdalcs, and Cheviots, •winch are practically unknown , hero. Marinos are second in placo to Lincoln; this I can’t altogether understand, as the country is so flat and Boil so rich. If any Now Zealand sheep are coming over for the show they want to he big and in good condition. In Now Zealand a ram would b© selected for wool and shape, and ‘if too big might bo rejected. Here, however, the wool Is not so important a factor as size,, so I can advise breeders in selecting for this show to Bcloct size -first in place of wool. Of course all sheep and stock in general have to show qualitv and nothing but the very best should ho allowed to J leave* out Dominion. Corriedalo sheep in New Zealand aro recognised os being tho sweetest mutton and profitable wool producers, so I should 35k© to so© this breed, which is solely •a New Zealand one well represented. ‘Along with tho different classes should be sent sample fleeces: tho Argentina dbas an idea that New Zealand is not a '.wool-producing country, but- mutton, po it is only who to show him that (Ncrw'Zealand can grow tho choicest of ‘.wools. ’ MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. One important and difficult obstacle 'that will have to be removed is tho (service between New Zealand and tho Argentina. From New Zealand to Mon to Video it is about nineteen days at sea. but from Monte Video to New Zealand under existing shipping services it is close on throe- months. Goods coming from New Zealand to Buenos Aires have got lo b© transhipped at Mont© Video on account of tho Shaw Savill Lino and New Zealand Shinping Company’s boats not being able to navigate to Buenos Aires. . However, a boat drawing 24 foot can ©nter to Buenos Aires, so there is no reason why a .suitable service could not bo arranged, Tho Pacific Shipping Company and Royal Mail Steam Packet toavigate with 12,000-ton boats, I j-think they aro specially built for tho ftrado and are constructed with flattented bottoms. Tho wealthy Argontinas, and there #lto plenty of them, are great travelSots, but havo no facilities in. their avay to see Australia and New Zealand,

so filial if a service was run from Wellington to Buenos Aires or Kio de Janeiro as tho terminal port, then hack to New Zealand by Buonos Aires and Capo Colony, it would open up an absolutely now route, and ono that should pay profitably. Passengers from New Zealand to Kind and could stop in Buonos Aires and Montevideo and proceed to Jtaigland by tho European mail boats, which leave almost daily, or could catch tho fine line of boats leaving weekly, viz., Royal Mail Lino; whereas on tho return journey, Argcntinas or Australasians intending to visit tho colonics, or return to them, could do so without having to go Home to London or to New Tork, as is at present necessary.