MEAT TRADE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16895, 27 November 1925, Page 8

MEAT TRADE.

SCHEME FOR EXPANSION

IN NORTHERN TERRITORY

SYDNEY, Nov. 17.—Satisfied after his trip round the world that Australia can produce beef of the best- quality cheaper than any other country, Mr B. Uramsie (ex-chairman of the Australian Meat Board) said the time was now opportune for the Federal Government to adopt some definite policy for the stocking of the Northern Territory under the continuous administration of a commission.

The first step should he, Mr Uramsie, to survey and value the whole of the potentialities of Northern Australia, ami then to decide upon a policy that would give the most lasting benefit to not only those interested at present in that country, but' also to those who are likely to be attracted by the adoption of a progressive policy. If this were done, he believed that- anjple British capital would he available to take advantage of investments there. It would be necessary to take into consideration, he proceeded, the question of railway construction, port facilities, and water conservation, to enable tile necessary stock routes to ho opened up, so that leaseholders could get their stock to market. The cost of transport would require to be kept a low as possible to enable improvements to be placed on the land, especially in regard to increased watering facilities, with a view to increasing the carrying capacity, and fo making the industry more prolilable. CONTROL BY COMMISSION. “Any policy of development of tho Northern Territory,’’ said Mr Crnmsie, “must be continuous and in the hands of some commission, in order to give security to investors. 1 am hoping that the Federal Government, if it should decide to open up and develop Northern Australia, will place that development in the hands of practical men. who either have some knowledge of conditions in West Queensland or have had experience of West New South Wales. This is necessary if tho development is to he worked to some definite plan, so that, when increased production has been 1 attained there will be available the transport facilities for marketing cattle on the very best and most economic line.se.’’ Mr Crnmsie said he was convinced, as i a result of careful investigations made by him in regard to the costs of meat production and the potentialities for extension in other meat producing countries of the world, that Australia, nder a progressive policy, could produce cattle suitable for the British markets much cheaper than any other country.

WORLD’S INCREASING DEMAND. He predicts that within the next ten years it will be difficult indeed to meet the world's increased demand for good quality beef. The United States of America, he added, already were taxed to their utmost in producing meat, while Canada had only a small surplus, which, if it were placed on the markets of U.S.A., would hardly be noticeable, lie could not see any likely great expansion in any of .tile States of South America, because the costs of production had greatly increased during the last ten years. To a large extent, these increased costs were due lo climbing land values. Canada, however, had done wonders in opening up her country; but in most instances railway construction had preceded actual settlement. it was only by these means that it had been found possible to develop such large areas, and at present the authorities had under consideration (lie extension of railway facilities to remaining areas that awaited development on similar lines.

“The time is opportune.” Mr Uramsie said in conclusion, “for Australia to decide whether she is going to develop Hie Northern Territory and take advantage of the likely increased demand for beef at firm prices, or whether she is going to leave it for another generation, when the time may not be nearly so opportune as at present,”