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SHEEP EXPORT EMBARGO
Tasmanian Merino Men
Hampered
Corriedale Sales" Balance
Recent expressions of opinion at
meetings of representative woolgrowr
ers' and sheepbreeders' organisations
have shown how diverse are the views
on the question of the embargo on the
export of Merino sheep from Australia
(says the "Pastoral Review"). The an-
nual convention of the Graziers' Fed-
eral Council considered a motion that
the embargo should be withdrawn in so
far as Empire countries are concerned,
and defeated lt by 12 votes to four. The
N.S.W. Sheepbreeders' Association a
few days later unanimously expressed
"grave concern" at the manner In which
the embargo was penalising the Merino
stud industry. Of course lt will be
claimed that the latter view, coming as
lt does from a body that consists main-
ly of stud breeders, is a prejudiced one,
but in fairness it must be admitted that
at both meetings the arguments pro-
pounded against continuation of the re-
striction carried a good deal of weight
and logie.
STUD SALES EFFECT 1
It certainly cannot be denied that
the Tasmanian stud breeders, who now
receive very little demand for their
sheep from the Mainland of Australia,
have been particularly hard hit by the
closure of their South African market
Neither is there any evading the fad
that the embargo is a restriction or
trade, and it 1B very inconsistent ol
graziers to be constantly asking the
Government for the removal of restric-
tions on trade while still maintaining s
restriction on their own. Again then
ls the point that the embargo, or rathei
Us understood objective of restrictinf
competitive production of high qualltj
Merino wool, with consequent scarcitj
and increasing price, ls stimulating thi
search for wool substitutes. It migh
be as well, in this connection, to con
sider very carefully the risk of any at
tempt to restrict too closely the world':
supply of Merino wool. The ratlonlni
of any commodity, and the raising o
ils price lovel, can easily be overdone
particularly In these days of advancei
and advancing scientific substitution.
OTHER BREEDS
As against this viewpoint lt may be |
recalled that Corrledales attracted a
lot of attention at the annual stud
sheep sales at Melbourne where the
sale crowd was one of the biggest seen
for a considerable time, and at which
the top price for Merinos was 155
guineas. Thc Corriedale, on that oc-
casion, was shown to be the breed of
the moment, as the top price of the day
was 305 guineas paid for a two-year
old ram bred by Mr. A. D. Mackinnon,
of Dalness (T.). The buyer was Mr. T.
C. Manifold, of Camperdown CV.).
This is the second highest price ever
paid for a Corriedale at Melbourne. A
wonderfully well-woolled sheep with
a large frame and plenty of style, this
ram was an example of the type being
sent to South Africa and Japan, coun-
tries barred from taking Australian
Merinos. Mr. Mackinnon also obtained
75 guineas tor another good two-year
old ram. Mr. C. A. Archer, another
Tasmanian breeder, was paid S7i
guineas for a prizewinning four-year
old, and Mr. J. A. Sloane, of Wyambeh
(V.), secured 55 guineas and 45 guineas.
One of Senator Guthrie's large-framed
sheep was passed in at 110 guineas,
while two others sold for 95 guineas and
45 guineas respectively.
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