THE CATTLE KING

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11422, 19 January 1923, Page 8

THE CATTLE KING

VIEWS ON THE MARKETS. A TRIBUTE TO MR JESSEiP. A through passenger to Australia by the Makura was Sir Sydney Kidman, the “Cattle King.” Despite his tremendous financial interests, Sir _ Sydney, says an Auckland “Herald” interviewer, remains the plain man of open spaoes—the man who would go ‘adrovin’ down the Cooper, where Western drovers go,” as cheerfully as he would negotiate a transaction for 10,000 carcases of beef on the London market. Slow of speech, and of negligent bodily attitude, he may be regarded as a typical product of the great Australian bu&h. He looks as if he had lived a strenuous life in the saddle in a dry land of sunshine. Even now, although the years are creeping upon him, he is never idle and rarely for long in one place. His home is near Adelaide, hut his interests keep him movjng to Queensland, the Darling country, and towards the Territory, through the very heart of the Continent where thousands of square miles are grazed by his cattle. “The* past year or two have been trying, with beef at ten bob a hundred,” he says. “There has been little or any profit; certainly .no. nw gin against dry seasons.” He is optimistio, however. “When you strike bottom, as 1 we've dono in beef, you can’t go lower,” he said, “and I believe that the beef market is going to improve. Lamb and mutton nave improved, and prices for beef are quito disproportionate. A factor that will have a beneficial effect is that the stocks have been got rid of, and the new beef is likely to meet a stronger demand. Of course, Argentine chilled beef is a strong copapetitor, but I doubt if, under the high land values of Argentine, competition can continuo as keen as it has been.” Rises that have taken place in lamb, mutton, and wool, he said, were of the greatest importance. Merino wool, of course, was exceptionally high, and hugely profitable; but he was almost as pleased over the revival of crossbred wool, which was of great benefit to the lamb-raiser, who had to use a cross. “New Zealand, taking it all round,” he said, “ca# produce a better lamb than Australia. It is a good thing that our seasons do not clash.”

Sir Sydney paid a fine tribute to the work done in London by Mr Jessep on behalf of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. “He has done remarkably well,” said Sir Sydney. “You could not have sent a better man. He has been the right nfan in the right place.’) Before the ship sailed two bright girls came up and demanded to know the contents of a parcel. “Mv dinner,” replied Sir Sydney. “It’s a present of stuff called ‘meat flour.’ We’ve to make our fortune by putting bullocks into bags, ‘they tell mo. I hope they are right. Perhaps It -s iust as well thev didn’t drive a bidlock on board, though—it might have kept our hand in.”