ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3139, 8 February 1911, Page 2

ON THE LAND.

BUTTER FOR GERAIANA'

Views expressed l;v Air A. C. Shadier (Queensland representative in Germany). in an interview with the Federal Alini&ter for Customs (Air Tudor), that Australian butter could be sold to great advantage in Germany if the requirements of that country were complied with, have been received with interest by A'ictorian shippers of butter. It was stall'd by Air Shadier that when butter was selling at 110 s a cwt. in England last year, 150 s. could have been obtained in Germany.

One exporter pointed out to an

••'Argus-" representative- that both Denmark and Holland, countries contiguous to the German Empire, exported very large quantities of butter the whole year round to Great Britain, and if such a disparity in prices existed at stated by Air Shadier, Holland and Denmark would divert some of their prodiice to tlie more profitable market. Shippers of butter in Victoria would look for more information before they troubled about tlie matter, for they had their agents in'London sending them advice as to European markets. 111 these circumstances they would ho glad to hear further from Air Shadier on the point whether there-was not a duty on butter imported into Germany, and, if there was, what was the amount of he impost. MEAT FOR AMERICA. ‘Beef at six cents, lamb at eight, with the tariff off.” That is the heading over an interview, published 1 in the New York “World,” with Air Arthur Kidman. In this yiterview Air. Kidman who is one of the largest meat exporters of Australia assured the people of America that he could land Australian beef and mutton in the United States at 6 cents a lb. and lamb at 8 cents per lb., provided that the tariff was removed.

‘‘l have spent, the last six months m this country,” he said, “studying tlie possibility of securing a market in the United iStates for meat and dairy exports. The only tiling in tlie way is the tariff : If Congress will lot down the bars a hit, so that we can come m, we can give beef, delivered in tlie earcase at the wharf, for 6 cents a pound, mutton for 6, lamb for 8 cents, and butter for 23 to 24 cents, exclusive of duty. And better butter, by the way, than you can get hero by paying the very highest- prices.

“The meat will be frozen, of course. But you eat frozen meat every day. Personally I consider that freezing improves it —certainly it does not harm it. The quality would be of the highest.” A recent special despatch in the “World’’ from Washington reads-: ‘There is no reason why Australian meats should not be brought into the United States under prescribed inspection, according to authorities here. The Department of Agriculture is satisfied that the cattle and sheep of Australia are as healthy as anv in the world. USE OF ALLUVIAL LANDS.

In a report which lie- has forwarded to tlie Victorian Minister for Alines (Air APBride), the State geologist (Mr Dunn) makes some important recommendations regarding the use of mineral lands for agricultural purposes. Mr Dunn says lie sees no objection to alluvial lands, worked out, being leased for agricultural purposes, so long as care is taken to safeguard whatever mineral interests may remain. One condition of such leases, he advises, should be an agreement that miners should have free

access to the ground in case, at any subsequent elate, it should be discovered that the alluvial deposits still remaining in the leads could l be treated profitably by means of cyanide. Worked-out alluvial lands all oyer the State could, Mr unn thinks, he leased under such conditions, though' he is of opinion that exceptions should be made in the cases of such places as Bendigo and Castlemaine, where lines of auriferous reefs are known to exist below the shallow alluvia] deposits. The reef-bearing rocks, such as ordovician and silurian, which are traversed by auriferous quartz veins or dykes, are, however, placed on quite a different footing by Mr Dunn. He urges that these mineral lands shall be leased for agricultural purposes in any circumstances, as he considers that they cannot be alienated without seriously injuring the mining industry of the State. He recommends, therefore, that no lands wheh are known to he traversed by any auriferous veins or lodes, or by lodes of other metals, shall be allowed to bo alienated.