Papua-New Guinea

Million

[?]T Bill

Big Scope for Cattle Industry in Papua-New Guinea

The Territory of Papua-New Guinea, from the Sepik plain to the geri uplands, has a proming future for beef cattle raising—if some the mistakes that have already been made are speedily rectified.

S appears to be the opinion of Dalgety’s Brisbane stud stock >fficer, Mr. Charles Lock, who i the Territory a short time i of the most interesting things jock had to say when he re -1 was that it was regrettable jo many herds on Government Imental stations were com of such nondescript cattle . speaking of the Erap experi il station near Lae, he said cattle were of poor type and alls in use were no credit to idministration” —a fact to be ed when settlers naturally to the Administration for a n these matters, i has been said before, igh perhaps not so bluntly— le P-NG Department of Agri e has refused to rise to the Lock also had something to >out what he called “tension” exists between Administra md settler. He quoted the f Mr. Mick Leahy, of Zenag, las established a herd of 450 lerefords. Before importing Mr. Leahy was assured by iministration that ticks would dicated from the area. This lot been successfully under with the result that he had d serious stock losses from vater.” He is claiming corn ion.

Lock felt also that the De cnt of Agriculture had over the carrying capacity of a leal of the Territory and that Id be necessary to introduce rasses to some areas. [ety’s will be shipping 1,000 of cattle to P-NG over the ew months. Cost of shipping f our batches in a landing from Cairns to Lae—will be

Plain Country for Cattle

ilready reported in PIM, the on family has taken up a irea for cattle around Gusap, e entrance to the Eastern nds. as now been announced that acres have been bought from s in the Sepik District and astoral interests have already i for leases. so-called Kunai country of

the Sepik stretches from the Sepik River side of the Prince Alexander Ranges to the River.

The foothill country between plain and range carries a large native population.

A beef industry for this area was the dream of the late Mr. “Bill”

Map Gregor, who at the time of his death was in charge of the Admin istration cattle station in the Baiyer Valley.

MacGregor knew this Sepik country as few others did and was also an experienced cattle-man. • last occasion that he visited Sydney he spent some time with PIM extolling the virtues of this country—much of which was covered with Mitchell grass, he in sisted—not kunai.

Last year, P-NG imported £Alh million worth of frozen and canned meat—proof that the Territory could carry a local cattle industry.