36 THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



the producer in Australia and tlu^ consumer in tlie centres of 

 population in Europe closer together, and the refrigerating 

 chamber is oi)ening up almost unlimited opportunities for the 

 expansion of trade. The remarkable success which attended 

 experiments made in New Zealand in the eighties in the shipment 

 to England of frozen meat compelled Australian breeders to 

 look askance at the "boiling down" works which were employed 

 for the purpose of dealing with surplus stock in times of plenty, 

 and relieving the pressure when droughts came. AVith a threat- 

 ened scarcity of feed and water before them, pastoralists were 

 sometimes forced to sacrifice their stock in a flooded market. 

 Sheep used to be killed for the sake of the skins, and the carcases 

 'either left to rot on the ground or sold for a few pence j^er head 

 to the owner of the nearest boiling down works and turned into 

 talloM'. The advent of the freezing- process and the refrigerat- 

 ing chamber in steamers altered all this, and the day of the 

 ■"boiling down" works passed away never to return. 



Reconstruction and Expansion. 



A critical period has been reached in the business oF raising 

 live stock and in the export of meat, and the vital question is: 

 H'ow can the drift be checked and the industry placed upon a 

 firm foundation ? The foregoing review and opinions expressed 

 by practical men show clearly enough that while climatic con- 

 ditions impose distinct limitations, there are other explanations 

 for the stagnation in the industry and the want of confidence 

 Avhich is causing owners to curtail operations, and preventing 

 others from taking up country and stocking it. The pastoral 

 occupation of the outside country is of fundamental importance 

 to Australia. It is the only way to develop natural resources, 

 people an empty continent, keep the factories of the Common- 

 wealth open, and provide employment and check the fatal pre- 

 ponderance of the metropolitan population. In no other way 

 can waste places be made productive. By increased production 

 alone will it be possible to meet growing national and private 

 obligations. Australian manufacturers depend wholly on home 

 markets, and are not likely to become exporters. They must look 

 to the stockowner, graingrower, and dairyman for orders, and 

 similarlv the earning v^ower of State-owned railways and State- 

 controlled harbours and ports will fluctuate -with the varying 

 fortunes of the primary producers. 



Is it too much, then, to ask that the Parliaments of the Com- 

 monwealth and States shall call a halt to their more or less 



