Export of Stock to Australia.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 80, 8 September 1915, Page 4

Export of Stock to Australia.

TO THE EDIIOR. fcir, — lhe Waikato Graziers' Asssociation must be an easily plachtsd body if they were satisfied with tha rt ply of the Prime Minister when they wrote to him protesting against the prohibition of the export of liva stock to Sydney. Well, the mischief is done now and nothing I can pay will be likely to Biter the position, but as an Australian who, thoigh resident fur the last two or three yeais in New Z.aland, is still closely in touch with what goes on iu uiy own country, I should like to put the matter before you Irom an Australian point oi view. Iheie iu'S alwajs been a slight feeling of jealousy between Australia and New Zealand, and as a lover of both countries 1 was di. lighted ta see this irstantly var.ish on the outbreak of war, and cordial mutual congratulations upon the aid each was giving the Empire take its place. The Press and public of New Zealand were generous in their acknowledgment of the value of the services of the Australian Navy, and on our aide iheie was no tinjje of envy at the (jueen of the Pacific, Samoa, falling lo the lot of New Zsaland. Our goodwill even took the material and tangible lorm of lending to the Dominion a large quantity k c>f wheat which left us perilously shoit.

By a"d by a little rift began to appear within the lute. The New Zealand Defence Minister began from time to tims to make Invidious comparisons between the number of man in proportion to tbe population he waß Bending as against those di:patcbed by the Commonwealth. We ft If a good deal hurt, for we were doing our best, and if New Zealand was more happily situated it was not ou? fault.

Then we had our drought, a disaster tot magnitude of wDich no New Zealander can possibly imagine. Cattls stations that entered it with 20,000 head came out in tome cases with less than a thousand sjrvivors. And Mr Massey cynically tell 3 the Waikato Graziers' Association our meat lamine—for witi beef in Sydney and Melbourne at one ai d ninepence a pound it can be called nothing else—was caused by over-exporting. Mr Massey says the butchers had nothing to do with the prohibition of exports of cattle. It is, however, certain that when at one market a month ago beef rose by lour or five shillings a hundred-weight because about fifty were bought for Sydney,- thu Auckland butchers immediately made strong representations to Mr Massey, and tbe prohibition was made before the next weekly sale. No doubt the butchers think it uwrg to their action. At all events, they know that they are still securing the rise made alround in the price of meat on account of one good sale. The general public is being heavily penalised, and no gcod is resulting to the farmer.

All through this winter Australia has bsen short—deadly shjrt—of oats and chaff, but no one in New Zealand could let ui have a bag of either except by the special consent ot the Minister for Customs. Now there ie a flump in both in New Zealand because she had more k ot each thn she needed. Could not the New Zealand farmers, who eorely needed some encouragement after their late disastrous harvest have been allowed to relieve our 'necessities and their own pcckets_at the same time.—l am, etc., r '; A. G. MADILL.