OSTRICH FARMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 290, 6 December 1929, Page 15

OSTRICH FARMING

A DYING INDUSTRY SOUTH AFRICA BADLY HIT Ostrich feather farmers are among th e most pessimistic people in Africa. They have been in this undesirable frame of mind for nearly twenty years, since the occurrence of the chang e in women’s fashions that affected this important industry, writes the Johannesburg correspondent of the San Francisco Chronicle. Paris, New York, and London dress and hat designers are responsible for this tragedy to one of South Africa’s outstanding activities. For some reason the great plumes on the headdresses of all women up to the war have vanished, and the result is that over a hundred thousand stately birdg are waiting uselessly in their paddocks for an opportunity to be plucked. For the last tffteen yerr s their number has steadily dropped. > In 1913, the last prosperous year for the ostrich feather farmer, more than three-quarter million birds were in captivity. As soon as the war started in 1914 the luxury merchants of the world closed their accounts and the slaughter of the now useless African birds commenced. Nowadays one often sees wagon loads of ostrich carcasses being transported over the rural highways surrounding Oudshoorn, Capo Province, th e former headquarters of the industry. Nobody bothers about the feather any more. The only demand conies from the tanners, who like the fine-grained leather than can be manufactured out of the birds’ skins. African gourmets also enjoy the tasty meat.

Farmer Prospered 20 Years Ago. From 1830 till 1912 ostrich farming was admittedly the most prosperous branch of agriculture in all Africa. A single pedigree bird was worth from 5000 dollars (£lOOO to 7000 dollars (£1400), and the land on which the creatures thrived, sold at 1000 dollars (£200) an acre. Almost every ostrich farmer lived in a mansion, and in view of th e fact that noticeable competition never arose in any other country the settlers showed the certainty of continued wealth. Strictly government embargoes prevented the export of live birds or eggs to States where competition was possible. Apart from that the Californian, Australian, Argentine and Algerian experimenters were handicapped by climatic disadvantages. Africa’s prosperous growers did not, , however, reckon on one thing. While they continued to give out money on mortgages, to buy .costly motor cars, and to send their sons to college, fashion veered around in favour of small hats for women. Nobody bought the picture models of 1912 any more, and even for trimmings and fans inquiries were few. No Market Now. While the guns in France crashed, the homesteads in Oudthoorn district, South Africa, became silent. Nobody wanted frills and furbelows from 1914 to 1918. The breeding paddocks in which the birds had once been kept were now used for tobacco and other ordinary crops. The great American and French dealers who formerly maintained branches in this country, closed their offices, and the huge Feather Market Hall at Port Elizabeth, the harbour through w’hich all the produce was one** shipped, was devoted to everyday purposes. Since then the farmers have again tried to popularise the once remunerative product.

Queens and society leaders, anxious to do the struggling industry a good turn, have repeatedly worn ostrich feathers in recent times, but the effect has not turned the simple trend of present-day design. Queen Mary, of England, Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, the Queens of Spain and Italy have all aided, yet the South African exports remain small.