STUD SHEEP EXPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17126, 5 December 1929, Page 13

STUD SHEEP EXPORT

CONCERN IN AUSTRALIA AFRICAN AND RUSSIAN BUYERS SYDNEY, Nov. 28. Tho swift move by South Africa and Russia to buy in Australia 30,000 stud merino sheep, and rush them out of the Country before the Government imposes its threatened embargo, constitutes one oli the mostdramatic moves in the history of the siieep industry, of the Commonwealth, and it is , bound to have great interes\ for the pastoralists of. New Zealand. It was reported on good authority the other day that 5000 sheep had been purchased on behalf of Soviet Russia, for transport to Southern Russia, where the sheep industry is making considerable progress. South African agents have also been extremely busy , in ail, parts of the country, and it is said that the total orders placed with the various breeders, more particularly in New South Wales, total 30,000. The total number of stud sheep exported to South Africa last year was 3780, and even this number was Responsible for many protests from people who were jealous of the position occupied by Australia among the wool-growing countries of the world. Imagine the outburst, then with orders on band totalling 10.000 for South Africa alon<{. Does it constituL a serious threat to Australia, which is. so greatly dependent on its wool for its prosperity? BAYING OF HIGH PRICES it is said that all the finest flocks are represented in the orders that have been placed, and that tempting prices were paid by the agents of Russia and South Africa, Now tlie- growers look to the Government to prevent the owners of studs from disposing of the best sheep that, Australia can offer to the countries that may become their greatest rivals in the very near future, “With v'col values at their present low’level,” said one of the growers, “and with little or no return coming to us, and knowing well that our greatest industry is in clanger, particularly from South African competition, built up by the wholesale export of our stud sheep, it is criminal to allow this mad policy to continue If protection for Australian woolgvowers ; s not given, the industry, already penalised by the high costs of production, cheap African labor competition, and, fighting its way against artificial and synthetic products, will receive another staggering blow. “Australia is between two fires — foreign competition in merino wool and the enormous world production of artificial substitutes for wool. American production of rayon and artificial wool this year is estimated at 135,000,0001 b., and in Great Britain at 60,000,C001 b. There is no evading the position. Australia’s wool supremacy is being challenged. And to allow a mere handful of exporters to cut the throat of an in-/ dustry worth nearly £70,000,000 a year, and to sacrifice the interests of 80,000 of its builders, is something that Australia cannot stand.” THOUSAND GUINEAS FULL A RAM One report states that money has been no object with the representatives of the countries concerned. Up to ICOO guineas is said to have been paid for first-class ranis. OS the sheep exported last year South Africa was the largest purchaser and paid more than £17,000 for its purchases. Russia paid £15,000 for the sheep that went to that country. South Africa’s scheme to become Australia’s greatest competitor includes the thorough training of its students, who ( are sent to the Commonwealth for in- , struction. After studying at the tech- j nieal colleges tiny go to the farms, 1 whoso owners sell to .South Africa, and there they complete their training. One of these students, now in Australia, is Mr. A. Hertzog, nephew of the Prime Minister of -South Africa, !