RIVALRY OF THE ARGENTINE

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 11

RIVALRY OF THE ARGENTINE

That the rivalry of the Argentine will have to be reckoned with by the producers of Australia and New Zealand is a fact that has been unwelcomely obtruding itself upon our notice for 6everal years past. The wide expanses of fertile prairie lands and well-watered uplands, in spite of natural drawbacks, are capable of an enormous volume of production, of which fact the Argentine producer is now fully cognisant. From a few Italian families who found wheat-

growing profitable on a generous soil, the population has steadily increased, and, acting upon the example of some of the more enterprising landowners, a considerable meat and dairy produce export trade has been developed. The awakening of the Argentine is one of the most striking examples of the growth of a nation, in .virtue of its fertile soil, and bears testimony to the energy of the European population who have revolutionised the country. Prior to 1880 the Argentine did not grow sufficient wheat for its own requirements, having to import both wheat and flour from Chili. By 1894 the exports of wheat reached a total of over 1,500,000 tons. In spite of the ravages of locusts and the devastation of droughts the productiveness of the Republic has been rapidly developed. Of late years, however, the Argentine has become a competitor in the British markets for frozen meat and dairy produce, and when South Africa offered new and promising markets Government agents went to spy out the land to such purpose that a lucrative trade has sprung up. During the currency of the war the Argentine exported considerable quantities of produce to the Cape. Among other things, in 1899 that country sent to South Africa 46,00U tons of maize, 20,000 tons of lucerne hay, 12,300 horses, 2169 live cattle, 9050 sheep, and 874 mules. Since the war the Argentine has largely contributed towards the re-stocking of the country with cattle and sheep, and the Government of the Republic, with commendable enterprise, has had lines of steamers specially fitted up for the pur*jpose of carrying live stock. Instead of b navy the Argentine has a mercantile .service with which it means to push its idvantage in the markets of the world. SVlien wa iaacn that ©xjjerta have esti-

j mated the area of laud in the Republic available for wheat-growing at no less than 240,000,000 acres, we may arrive at some idea of the possibilities of the Argentine when the whole of this magnificent estate is brought into full production. Although a considerable j portion of that area is chiefly devoted to cattle ranching, still most of it is estimated to be good wheat land. For the pastoral and dairy industries the large areas in the west and south or the Republic should prove ideal country. Taking even a low estimate, the wheatgrowing area could be increased to about 20 times its present dimensions, and then an enormous scope of country be left for pasture lands. The most recent information concerning the exports of the Argentine would seem to indicate that portion of the wheat lands has been withdrawn from cultivation and set apart for pasture. The wheat export fell from 1,929,700 tons in 1900 to 650,098 in 1902, while the meat export increased from 2,372,960 carcases in 1900 to 3,429,222 in 1902. An increase of 1,056,262 carcases in the space of two years shows an enormous development of the frozen meat trade. At the same time the export of frozen, beef largely increased. The amount of trade with South Africa last year is a significant fact that cannot be lost sight ot in this colony. During 1902, Sir J. G. Ward tells us, the Argentine shipped to South Africa 393,266 frozen sheep, 210,203 quarters of beef, 6000 tons oi wheat, 74,126 tons of maize, 23,292 tons of bran, 1,242,503 bales of hay, 870 tons of sugar, and 23,086 boxes of butter. The total quantity of beef exported by the Republic in 1900 was only slightly in excess of that sent to South Africa last year, showing how rapidly the output is increasing. But in addition to enormous areas of fine agricultural and pastoral land, the Argentine has very large flocks and herds. In 1898 there were 28,000,000 head of cattle and 110,000,000 sheep in the Argentine, and it is at least probable that by this time the numbers have been largely augmented by natural increase. The flockowners of the Republic own more sheep than those of Australia and New Zealand put together, so that it will be quite easy for the Argentine to enormously iucrease its esfiort of frozen

meat in the future as it gets freezing works into operation and the country opened up by railways and other means of communication. The rapid growth of the dairy industry is a factor that intimately interests this colony, and it is all the more regrettable that at a time when the competition of powerful rivals is beginning to be felt any relaxation of the regulations that have built up our reputation for prime dairy produce should have been permitted. The difference in distance gives the Argentine tremendous advantage over New Zealand in the British markets, and when the flocks and herds of the Republic have been improved the rivalry will be still more potent to do us harm. Consequently it becomes the bounden duty of the producers of New Zealand to strain every nen T e to maintain the high reputation they have already gained.