Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-12
AUSTRALIAN live
STOCK INDUSTRY

I Associated Press Correspondence
sydney, Australia. Aug. AS this
Australian live stock industry depends
uron the export trade. and as the war
exigencies. including German subnar-
inc operations. have brought about the
greatest dearth Of tonnage the Anti
pcdes have ever known. cattle mcn in
the Commonwealth have become
alarmed. regarding the future Of their
business.
The Prime Minister, William ".
Hughes. speaking in Parliament recent
~ conceded that so far as he could see
there was no solution of a problem
confronting live stock owners normally
engaged in producing meat for export.
That problem is what to do with
their surplus meat. Weekly the gravity
OF the situation increases. Under Or
binary conditions Australian supplies
of meat far exceed domestic demand
but thanks to refrigeration abroad
there is virtually unlimited trade. But
war time want Of vessels has resulted
il closing overseas markets and the
filling of domestic refrigerating plants
to repletion.
AS regards this state. New South
Wales, there is usually heavy increase
ir the supplies of live stock sent to
sydney about October and November
when the sheep shearing season is over
and cattle men are preparing to reduce
their herds and foCks. If this course
if followed this year. q reduction in
values is inevitable On the other hand
present prospects are that the coming
Summer will not be droughty and IL
will therefore, be good holding" sea-
son.
Mr. Hughes advised pastoralists and
graZiers to adjust their business by
maintaining their fiocks and herds for
scme time on the hoof." But IL the
summer is favorabl and perforce the
Prime Minister'S advice is taken. seri-
Gus losses will be entailed. especially
in view of u recent decision by the
Commonwealth Arbitration Court at
Melbourne increasing the wages Of
ranch hands by about $4,000 900 in the
aggregate.
In the adjoining state Of Queensland.
the foremost cattle state in the Com
monwealth. the situation is even more
pNi Lul DlilS- L hc NSuScIiSldHu
plants, some of which are American
owned, are full and it is upon their
operation that live stock owners rely.
Moreover, the presence of cattle tick
il some border districts Of the state
and the plentiful supply Of meat in
New South Wales preclude an outlet in
this direction.
In general cattlement are worse off
then sheep mon because the latter have
potential market for wool. In this
connection. Premier Hughes recently
furnished Parliament with statistics
showing that the large sum of 81 ,000.-
900 was realized for Australians wool
during the wool season which ended
June 30. The Premier reviewed the
operation of the scheme by which the
British Government Communicated the
1516-17 clip. The acquisition was a
war measure the extent and complex
ity of which. he said would have stag
gered the trade in any but these alb
normal days. but it worked out most
satisfactorily.
The total value Of the wool actually
&C ntroled and brought under the
scheme amounted to 1925, 700. 900 and
the wool catalogued and sold by auc-
ton and private arrangement In the
chief markets of the Commonwealth,
sydney. Melbourne. Geelong, Brisbans.
Adelaide, Hobart and Perth. from July
te November 20, 1916. amounted to
about $51.s4o,ooo. or q total by sale
and appraisement Of $17s,34o,0oo. In
addition some woods were shipped 70
London which did not fall within the
acquisition scheme or appear In the
state markets. The acquisition &C
counted for approximately 1,144,6se
be les at about $40 a bale.
Such benefits to wool growers during
time when embargoes ordered by the
British Government operated against
exports to neutrals and when German
submarines initiated against shipping
facilities to the United Kingdom and
Allies countries are considered remark Z
able.
Mr.. Hughes explained that the COM
ing seasons clip had been acquired by
Great Britain under conditions similar
to those which prevailed in the wool
year of 1861. The central wool
committee at Melbourne is already In
possession of reports from the state
committees as to the working Of the
schemes last season with a view to rec
tifying defects in 1t. These relate TO
appraisement methods and to relative
values Of classes Of wool Consequently
1. is believed that the machinery OF &C
quisition during the season o. 1at7-is
Will be much more efficient than when
Il was installed in January last.