PROSPECTS IN THE ARGENTINE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7534, 10 August 1903, Page 4

PROSPECTS IN THE ARGENTINE.

Mr J. C. Parker a well-known sheepfarmer of the Poverty Bay district, who recently sold his property and went to the Argentine for the purpose of comparing the relative advantages of New Zealand with the country of which Buenos Ayres is the centre, ha.s returned to Gisborne, Mr Parker, after visiting almost every part of the Argentine, came to the conclusion that it is no country for the man of limited capital. It is difficult, he says, to get a " hearing " on the land, or get a decent return under i*lo,ooo. Everything was in the hands of big companies, and their monopolies and influence were an effective stumbling block to the " small " man. There was no denying the country was a great one, but not uniformly so good as New Zealand's best, as many would have people to believe. The main crops grown were wheat, Indian corn, and lineeed. Linseed was largely cultivated, but it did not grow so well as in Poverty Bay. In the Argentine the settlers obtained from 15 to 20 bushels to the acre, as against 50 bushels taken at Poverty Bay. But, of course, the area is so vast that even 15 bushols paid handsomely ;it could be raised so cheaply, The ciass of country was good, but the climate was much against it. Another drawback was the condition of the stock, which were full of disease, and there did not appear to be any chance of keeping it under, owing to the want of compulsory measures and the negleot of the Government. Some of the farmers dip four times a year to keep their stock clean, but this was almost useless, when tbeir neighbours not trouble to dip at aH. Disease seemed to have worked in fo the very ground, and the scab came regulary every year. Jf the Argentiue were under the British rule things would be different, and the country be much more attractive. The general run pf cattle were poor, being inter-bred and etaggy. The farmers appeared to be only commencing fo show more attention to improvement of the quality of their cattle. The sheep did not compare with New Zealand stock. They were bad, anyhow, the rams, ewes, and lambs running together throughout the year. He saw no decent sheep in the country. It was only" the last year or so that big prices were being paid for stud rams. In Buenos Ayres salcyards at the present time, stud rams and bulls were being disposed of, but the majority were animals which farmers in New #eajand would not haye. Anything could be sold in' Buenos Ayres in the shape of stud bulls and rams, especially if the latter were longwools. Scab and the foot-and-mouth disease were what sbeep had principally to contend with. Cattle were plagued with ticks, and they were dipped every year, which wae a big job. The majority of

tbo farmers did not dip at all. I Then there was tho carbunclo dis-, case for which the cattle had to' be inoculated. There were a lot of horses ; in tho Argentine, but the majority were ' of a poor class. On the stations they were in thousands. The colts fetched a I fair price, but mares could be obtained for 60s a head. Cheap labour was a great advantage. " The Argentine is going to be a groat country," concluded Mr Parker, " but give mo New Zealand to live in. I havo couio back with a far better impression of this colony than 1 ever had, although I always had a good opinion." Mr Parker is a practical farmer of large cxi porience, and his pronouncement in favour of this colony against the Argentine is one that should interest all New Zealanders whose restless enterprise may bo inducing them to wander elsewhere in search of more atiractive fields of labour.