32 T1IK WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



development from Queensland in the beef line. A normal 

 export of from one and a half to two million quarters may 



be looked tor at. present and in the near future, but a big 

 change in " Labour's" attitude must, take place before any 

 large increase can be expected. Queensland cattle kill at 

 a 1 tout an average of 640 lbs. dead weight at the meat 

 works. 



Great developments should take place in Western Australia 

 in regard to cattle supply. There is an enormous area of ex- 

 cellent cattle country, and with freezing works at Wyndham 

 and other ports, a big supply of frozen beef may be depended 

 upon. This supply will be a fortnight nearer the world's 

 markets than that of the Eastern sea-board, and necessarily 

 tin freight should be lower. The whole issue depends on the 

 Government; with just legislation, security of tenure, and 

 decent labour there is nothing to prevent Western Australia 

 rivalling, and even beating, Queensland in her beef output. 

 As regards mutton — sheep and lambs — everything points to a 

 larger supply than formerly throughout the Commonwealth. 

 Cross breeding has been gone into very extensively, and many 

 men are now breeding for export sheep and lambs. Under 

 decent conditions and with a Government with brains suffi- 

 cient to encourage the men on the land to increase and multi- 

 ply their flocks and herds, Australia alone should easily be 

 able to supply Great Britain with all the mutton she may re- 

 quire. Recently the Hon. D. J. Gordon, of Adelaide, read a 

 paper before an Interstate conference of meat exporters in 

 Sydney on the Live-Stock Industry of Australia. This was 

 reprinted in The Pastoral Review, and as it gives the views of 

 breeders, I reproduce it here with confidence : — 



Causes of Shortage in Live-Stock and Suggested 



Remedies 



There have been many contributory factors to the want of 

 vitality in Australia's leading industry, and the serious shortage 

 in live-stock as disclosed in the latest statistics. With a view 

 to investigating the causes I sent circulars to a number of 

 leading stock-owners, and asked for replies to the following 



