ASSISTANCE FOR IMPORTERS

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 15

ASSISTANCE FOR IMPORTERS

PEDIGREE STOCK FOR AUSTRALIA In view of the continuance of the livestock embargo on the part of the Dominion, and the strong protests made against its removal by the Farmers’ Union, it is interesting to contrast with our attitude that of Australia to-day. Commonwealth and State Governments alike are assisting importers of pedi gree stock financially, with the result that the cost of bringing cattle and pigs from England so far as the private individual is concerned is only a fraction of what it was formerly. The Australian regulations apply to cattle, sheep and pigs, but only to four breeds of the last-named, the subsidy being confined to Berkshires, Tam worths, Large Whites and Middle Whites. Apparently Australia has decided that it is in her interests to reduce the number of breeds of pigs. No assistance is given towards the actual purchase price, but a contribution and a generous one at that is made towards the cost of importing. By arragement, the shipping companies have given a specially low freight rate, which in the case of cattle works out at a total cost of 30gns a head. Of this cost two-fifths is paid by the Commonwealth Government, two-fifths by the purchaser, and one-fifth by the Commonwealth Bank. The effect of this is that the total cost of imnortinr a valuable animal, so far as the purchaser is concerned, is only 12 guineas—surely an encouragement! The only conditions attaching to the freight assistance are that the stock must be imported for the purchaser’s own use, must be pedigree stock (the production record, if any, has to b? given), and the purchaser must retain the animals for at least two years, or refund the subsidy.