BEEF PROBLEMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 4 June 1908, Page 3

BEEF PROBLEMS.

PLENTY IN BRITAIN, SCARCITY IN FRANCE. ' ' Tile " Agricultural Gazette" (British) is anxious to seo tho British-grown beef given better- opportunities of being marketed on its merits as.agaiusUfrozen beef; and in an article on April 20, it refers to the contrast of tho beef surplus of Britain with tho beef scarcity of Franco and Germany—a contrast which may. disappear if Dr. Gautier's proposal for free trade in France for frozen meat bo adopted. The "Gazette" says:—' -j- .- •"•The question of the sources of the meat supply is not one that can be agreeably contemplated by the British agriculturist, for it :js chiefly'suggestive. to him of increased competition from countries'in which the costs of production are -from a variety /of' causes 'cheaper than in his own. ' Still; it may be useful to indicate that at the present moment •various changes of importance are in progress.' and if these do not imply any slackening in the difficulties he has to face, they at any rate show that in holding. their own gome of his most/formidable''rivals are.experiencing'- a certain amount of trouble to which they 7 have formerly been unaccustomed. .For esampk, the hitherto unquestioned supremacy; of the United States for beef production;' arid Australasia for its output of' mutton, is not now-unchallenged. Of course the ' foriiier country Has still ' two

. strings to its-'bow, whereas the Argentine Republic has/only one—in the one case both live cattle 'and fresh beef can be landed in ■this country;'whereas'only beef can be imported if j'om South America. "' . ' ' -./" The .prohibition of imports of live cattle'' from'-'tho Argentine has .'been followed by a remarkable development; of the fresh beef ex- • port trade. During the three months ended March- 31, the Argentine/exported, te- this country 848,129 cwt. of fresh beef, including refrigerated and frozen.- In the corresponding period - last year the quantity was 660,636 cwt., the. increase representing a value: of over a quarter of a'million pounds. On the, other hand, the United. States sent 452,336-cwt., against 558,229 cwt. in the same ■ quarter - .of ,1907,':; and 621,000 cwt. in 1906, the drop since 1906 being .also equivalent in value to a quarter of a million pounds. This falling, off/has hot been made up by an increase bf live cattle from the United States, the number being/ 90,103 in/1908, against ' 98,407.head in 1907,, and. 112,833 in 1906, .a decline ;in'value'under this year ,of not far short of half a million pounds. Of fresh mutton/the Argentine'.sent 319,568 cwt., /• ' against cwt. in 1907',; while Australia sent: 301,469 this year and 439,415 in 1907. The Afgentihis thus heads> the list both, of . fresh bdef arid fresh' mutton imports—a very notewQrthj 'achievement in the course; of a "• ' feiv'fj'eais". -"There . is" -'no doubt 'that ; the f., gro,wth,sf the; Argentine' exports of beef is giving "'rise to^anxiety in the United; States, .. "'result may : be' : important in several y wajt&'-'v >'■•/•' / ''■•'.'. ■ ; •'..''' ' V.'.ln the meantime the production- of meat, especially of- beef, is excessive, and prices are being run low. Of course, the bulk, of wTiat -is exported 'from - North' and' South America comes here, a,nd it would be welcome'news.if it were found to/be possible for a portion of ; it to. be diverted elsewhere. Germany; and France are suffering from scarcity of beef, and it remains to' be seen . how, long this will be submitted to. , If, however, the .industrial classes were to ,assert themselves,, an 'important .change might be effected,' and this/would.be beneficial to English; stock feeders, as theemarket would be Relieved of its.present congested state, and values/for . the. Home-produced meat would . increase.. . It; is .; a' pity that Parliament will not. turniitS;- attention, -to devising means ,to ensure;that the desire:of .the public to purchase, Home-grown .meat:could be satisfied,, and; no better plan has; hitherto sug-gested-than to Have all-meat clearly markeid; showing distinctly its t place<of origin."'