New Caledonia's

Trade

Effort to Develop a Beef Industry

AUSTRALIA, for years, has been doing a large export trade with New Caledonia in coal, flour, butter, etc.; but, since the outbreak of war and the subsequent dislocation of shipping services from Europe, New Caledonia has become more than ever isolated from France, and is looking towards Australia for the bulk of her supplies.

Provided that shipping space is avail able, this trade should develop consid erably, under present conditions.

Interesting purchases of an Australian product for New Caledonia were seen recently in the shipment of a consider able number of stud cattle, bought at the Sydney Royal Show, for distribution among farmers in New Caledonia. There are large areas of good cattle-country in New Caledonia, and an attempt has been made on a number of occasions to build up an export meat trade. One of the disadvantages, however, has been

the deteriorating quality of the New Caledonian cattle.

The Government of New Caledonia now is making a determined effort to improve the herds, and M. Jean Verges, Chief Veterinary Officer of New Cale donia, visited Sydney during the Royal Show, and bought high quality cattle— ‘mostly bulls.

Mr. J. J. Hardie, who assisted M.

Verges in the selection, and who knows New Caledonia, said that the country may be roughly divided into a dry and a wet area. The Shorthorn and Here ford bulls would be used in the former area, with perhaps one or two of the Illawarra breeds, while the Aberdeen Angus and the dairy breeds would be kept mostly in the heavier rainfall country.

New Caledonia possesses a very good meat works at Waco, under the man agement of Colonel Dix, an Englishman.

The effect of the importation of these high-class cattle from Australia will be watched with interest and it is hoped that at an early date an export beef industry of considerable importance will be developed in the French Colony.