CATTLE FOB AUSTRALIA

Southland Times, Issue 18971, 19 June 1923, Page 5

CATTLE FOB AUSTRALIA

FIRST SHIPMENT YESTERDAY USEFUL MARKET FOR DOMINlON’S SURPLUS BIG FINANCIAL INTERESTS OPERATING. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, June 18. The first shipment of fat bullocks for the Australian market was loaded yesterday. The cattie which are in prime condtion, are expected to leave to-day by the Waihora, which was specially chartered. Yesterday morning special trains commenced arriving from the country, conveying fat bullocks for the Australian buyer, Mr Keith McLean. The first train from Taranaki carried 190 head and another from Marton brought 230 and a third from Longburn has 250 head nboArd. All were in prime condition. A Dominion reporter inspected several truck loads and found in one of them, five shorthorns from Mr T. A. Duncan’s property at Hunterville, which averaged 16451bs dead weight. There were also some very nice Herefords and polled Angus, the latter somewhat wild, but in fine condition. ihe Railway Department relaxed its usual. regulations and allowed the stock train to run on Saturday. The cattle were entrained and shipped under the supervision of three expert Australian stockmen, who will travel to Melbourne with them, assisted by five others from New Zealand. Although the majority of the 750 head loaded on the Union Company’s Waihora were entrained during the night, they arrived without mishap and only one was slightly injured in embarkation. There was some difficulty in loading yesterday, owing to the shortage of experts available, and the ramp which had been constructed was done away with, the balance being loaded comfortably ’with the Harbour Board’s slings. Mr McLean, who is a son of a former Premier of Victoria, is associated with big financial interests in Australia and expressed himself yesterday, as determined to give the venture a good tryout and endeavour to establish a regular winter trade to Australia. It was stated by an authority that there are enough bullocks in New Zealand at present to meet the requirements of the Dominion for two and a half years, if not more. The farmers have been paid good prices for the present shipment, but the quality is undoubted, and it is expected that the venture will be a financial sucsuccess. A difficulty arose in regard to insuring the cattle for the trip across, but a cable to Australia brought an insurance contract a fraction over one-half what was asked by the New Zealand insurance companys. The meat, shipment will be forwarded in about a fortnights time.