TEMPERATE SURPLUS-PRODUCING REGIONS 75 



Zealand ; in beef exports it was next to Argentina in the years 

 1910-14, but the surplus was but a fraction of that of the South 

 American Republic ; in butter, taking an average of years, it has 

 occupied about the fourth place, its exports amounting, however, 

 to rather more than one-third of those of Denmark and less than 

 half of those of Siberia in the years preceding the outbreak of the 

 war. 



It is not likely that the rate of development of animal indus- 

 tries, except, perhaps, of dairying, will be rapid in Australia in 

 the future. In the most prominent branch of these industries, 

 namely, sheep-rearing, the production of wool is still of much 

 greater importance than that of mutton x ; though more attention 

 is being given to the latter than was formerly the case, progress in 

 the substitution of crossbreds for merinos will be gradual owing 

 to geographical, climatic and labour conditions. 2 The tendencies 

 of the moment favour perhaps an increase in the production of 

 wheat rather than in that of meat, which may follow at a later 

 stage. Even the production of wheat in Australia, like that of 

 wool, so long as it utilises land without encroaching upon the re- 

 sources available for the production of meat and milk, assists the 

 world-situation in the matter of these products, by relieving the 

 pressure upon land for cereals in other countries. While some 

 witnesses before the Dominions Commission in Australia expressed 

 optimistic views concerning the near future, the conclusions reached 

 by the Commission are more or less restrained in tone. 3 This 

 report is based on evidence taken some time ago ; in the meantime 

 there have been drought conditions in Australia, and, although 

 production has been stimulated by war prices, labour difficulties 

 have increased owing to the cessation of immigration and the with- 

 drawal of men into the army. 



SURPLUS-PRODUCING REGIONS. 



(/) NEW ZEALAND. 



Not only relatively to its area, but also absolutely, New 

 Zealand stands among the world's more important exporters 

 of surplus animal foodstuffs. This is due to a small population, 

 a highly favourable climate, natural fertility, and a marked 



U.S. Dept. Agric., Bulletin, 313, 1915. " Over 70% of the sheep in 

 Australia to-day are of Merino breed. Of the crossbreds that make up a 

 large part of the balance, most are from Merino ewes " (p. 9). 



Also British Association for the advancement of Science Handbook for 

 Australia, 1914, p. 394. ' The difficulty is that the Australian cannot help 

 regarding the sheep as primarily a wool-producer." 



2 U.S. Dept. Agric. Year Book, 1914, p. 337. Australasia " can and doubt- 

 less will increase its production (of wool and mutton) to a considerable extent. 

 Such an increase cannot be a sudden one. With the high cost of labour, the 

 advance towards any system requiring an increase of labour is likely to be 

 gradual." 



3 See Dominions Commission, Final Report (Cd. 8,462), pars 105-122. 



