A COMPETING WOOL

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12747, 19 April 1909, Page 4

A COMPETING WOOL

Commenting upon the Argentine stock returns, a correspondent of the London Economist says that it has been known for years that cattle were taking the place 1 of. sheep on some of the big runs, the only extension noticeable being in Patagonia, where sheep are fast increasing. "No doubt," he writes, "the weight of wool which the Eiver Plate is turning out does not show much falling off to what it did a few years back. Like Australian pastoralists, Argentine estancia holders have gone in lately for keeping a bigger sheep, arid, if New Zealand pastoralists could see the- splendid character of the crossbred wool now being turned out' from Argentine, they vjould be surprised, for the besjt stud sheep that' money can buy are being stili imported, into both countries. So far, as sfieepbreeding and woolgrowing is concerned, there is no indica^ tion of pastoralists in South America standing still, and when they have learned to prepare their clip for market as Australian squatters do, their wools will rank still hiorher on the markets of the world." River Plate wool is a topic of unfailing hitprest to members of the trade, thanks entirely to its improving characteristics. Bradford buyers look iiron the wool product of the whole of South America with considerably more favour tban was the case even five years ago, and as time goes on this feeling will grow. Patagon'ian wools are increasing by lears and bounds. A competent authority stated not many months ago that that part of South America could easily depasture 30 millions of sheep. Not long apt> three Bradford woolsorters landed 'at Pntna-Arenas to class the present clip on three bie stations. But it is the product really of the River Platp which absorbs, for the time being, attention.