CORRESPONDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1927, Page 11

CORRESPONDENCE

DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—One of tl.- most important and serious questions exercising the minds of the people of this country to-day, is the future of our dairying industry. In the absence of something like definite information as to what is being done in other parts of the world—together with some idea as , what may yet be accomplished by other countries—in the way of extension—it is rather difficult to suggest what the future holds in store for us and to realise how we compare with the rest of the world in regard to that great industry which is of the utmost importance to New Zealand. The success or failure of closer settlement in this country is going to be very largely governed by the success or otherwise of our dairy industry. In order to assist in securing some reliable information which will be helpful towards finding out “where we are” I have compiled the undermentioned list of the world’s dairy cows with the aid of The Statesman’s Year Book, and the publications of the International Institute of Agriculture. The statistics of Milch cattle are those published in 1926. They embrace cattle over two years of age only, and should be as nearly as possible correct, coming as they do, from the most reliable sources. The statistics of total cattle population— in countries other than those interested in dairying—have set opposite, each lot, the year (in parentheses) when the return was made. Such countries have not, so far, done anything towards developing any appreciable manufacture or trade in dairy produce. I have meantime been unable to secure reliable information regarding China, Portugal and a number of other countries regarding cattle statistics. THE WORLD’S DAIRY CATTLE.

Spain 3,296,573 Cattle population of those countries not showing any return of dairy stock. Country Population

A study of the for going figures will enable any person of average intelligence to understa d that countries other than New Zeala~d possess immense potentialities. Argentine with only 8.8 per cent, of her total cattle population as milcli cattle is undoubtedly only at the beginning of her development in regard to dairying. It has not been possible to secure the percentage figures for Norway, Spain or- Russia. That the latter has enormous probabilities later on, is a matter of common knowledge. The foregoing information should make it clear to us in New Zealand that we will have to exercise mv care and forethought in regard to the dairy industry. As other countries possessing enormous resources proceed to develop we cannot reasonably hope for a maintenance of high prices. It is absolutely imperative that the cost of production must be materially lowered to enable us to live before we are much older. It is interesting also to uote that Argentine has 60 million acres at present under cultivation, whereas the total area of New Zealand is about 36 million acres. Argentine has about 400 million at es available for agricultural and pastoral purposes. The area used meantine for .ittle-raising in the southern portion cf Argentine is 212 million acres. The area of improved land in New Zealand is set down at about 18 million acres. I have referred particularly to Argentine because of that country, like New Zealand, being situated in the Southern Hemliphere —I am, etc., Wm. STEVENSON. Invercargill, June 29.

Number Percentage of milch cattle comCountry of milch cattle pared with total cattle population Argentina •«.• 3,294,989 8.8 Australia 2,419,809 16.9 Belgium 820,693 3,228,633 51.2 Canada « 39.0 Chile 202,152 10.1 Czecho-Slovakia 2,298,061 50.0 Denmark .,.. 1,349,365 55.9 Finland a-oac.-.j 1,218,622 64.3 France 7,303,949 63.1 Germany 8,308,338 49.9 Great Britain >-«• 3,068,642 33.3 Ireland •. 1,633,316 30,171,345 31.7 Italy 49.2 Japan 53,750 3.7 Netherlands 1,085,713 52.6 New Zealand 1,248,643 35.9 Norway 1,131,120 * —— Russia ....... 47,657,631 ——- South Africa 2,263,778 1,739,000 36.5 Sweden 63.6 Switzerland 780,000 53.0 United States -., 23,198,000 34.0

Cattle British India (1919-20) 33G 117,428,365 Brazil (1920) ftij 34,271,324 Venezuela (1920) 3,500,110 Paraguay (1915) 5,249,043 7,829,183 Madagascar (1921) 3OB Uruguay (1916) !£« 7,802,000 Boumania (1921) M2€ 5,520,914 Jugo-Slavia (1922)' 3LO 5,011,290 Algeria (1919) ara 1,092,995 Sudan (1921)’ x« 1,025,345 Cuba (1922): 4,771,527 Turkey (1919) 4,118,000 Siam (1922)' 2,863,822 Hungary (1920) 2,221,988 Mexico (1920) 2,162,984 Bulgaria (1917) 1,885,620 Austria (1919) 3»’*j 1,719,000 Morocco '(1922) 1,558,253