MEAT FOR THE ARMIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2729, 25 March 1916, Page 8

MEAT FOR THE ARMIES

SOURCES OF SUPPLY

BRITISH IMPORTATIONS

Some men in a, good position to form I a judgment bcliere tho price ol : meat has not reached its highest level, and that in the near future a further increase is probable (states the London "Daily Telegraph"). Yi'e liavc to bo prepared to pay a big price for meat so long 'as overseas supplies liavo to lie carried to great armies in the field. The Government lias requisitioned the refrigerated space in steamers, and, wliilo the first consideration must be given to pur own and Allied armies, the needs of the civilian population, both at home and in Frauco, aro being mct._ "Meat is required by our own lighting forces and thoso of France," says tlie Government. "Wo will secure it, but anything above that required for immediate use and an adequate reserve is available for the public." The amount left over for sale in the public may at times be limited, aud therefore the prices keep firm. French Well Pleased. There is no shortage. And while the Government keeps control of the refrigerated space in steamers figures are not likely to rise to famino prices. Freights are an important. element in meat prices,; but that is a matter tlie Government 'has in hand. A more serious itom in the cost of meat is the price fixed by big firms controlling supplies. Having tho control of ■ transport, the Government can make a bargain with tho meat companies, who, -left to thornj 6elves, cannot transport the goods, and their action in spending something like J30,000,000 on imported frozen' meat has liad the effect of keeping tho fighting forces well supplied with food, and of preventing the public having to pay more tlian reasonable war prices for meat. It lias had an- [ other and very important effect. When the cost of frozen meat increased,' the price of meat produced at Home rose in sympathy Better prices have stimulated farmers to increase their' ■ stock, and, though foodstuffs are costly, farmers have given- more attention to producing beasts for market, and to-day we have better reserves than for, a considerable time. Last year 34.7 per cent, of.the meat sold in tho London Centra], Markets was produced in tho United Kingdom, against 27.3 per cent, in 1914.

Mr. Ilunciman lias stated that, but for the action the Government took, it / would not have been possible to supply the .French Army with frozen meat, and the French authorities are so' satisfied, witli the transactions that they' have left us free to buy the whole frozen meat in the world for their army, as well as for our own army. ■ The French civilian population has benefited by this transaction. The French,, by their system of preparing food for the table, put their meat to mora economical uso than we do. Before the war the greater ■ part of meat consumed in France was produced in that country, and now that the demands for tho army malte it necessary to look for an overseas supply, it can be furnished without raising the price to civilians much abovo the normal level. The Army's Needs. The figures for 'British imports, of moat for the past two yoars show there was a considerable decline in 1915. But it must be remembered wo had great armies in the field, and a very Targe amount of meat which went to tho troops , did not come to England. For '.instanco, it would have been a great waste of time and money to have fed the troops in the -Eastern Mediterranean on Australian meat shipped from cold storage in this country. . It,is a,remarkable, fact that although supplies coming to Smithfield in 1915 for civil purposes were 51,773 tons below those of 1914, yet. throughout the year the demand was readily met, and a surplus'or carry-over from week to week was frequently tho case. This fact is disclosed in the summary which Mr. M.' ff. G. Millman,. tho superintendent of the markets, .annually furnishes. Tho falling olf in the . demand is probably accounted: for by reason of the majority of the young men of the metropolis, the greatest eaters .of meat, being fed by the Army authorities. j.n tact, no statistics in regard to moat can be properly considered unless the influence of the Army's demands is taken into account. No better illustration of this can be given than the following figures showing the imports of meat during the past two years. The decline in the amount of chilled beef and the increase in frozen beef imported into the United Kingdom is due entirely to the needs of tho Army'. Frozen beet is far more easily transported than chilled beef, and the former is therefore substituted for the latter:—. >,

. 1915. 1914. Owt. Cwt. Chilled beef ... 2,618,5(16 4,812 209 Frozen beef ..... 3,989,872 4,02?'106 Frozen mutton' 4,700,705' 5,199,731 Pork 269,305 861,203 London's Consumption. London Central Markets form ail excellent. barometer, of the meat trade throughout tho kingdom. The produce dealt with at the market during 1915 .amounted to 373,331 tons, as against 42i>,104 tons in 1914, a , decrease of 01,77fl tons, or J 2.2 per cent. The decrease is attributable to smaller shipments available lor market purposes rrom South America and Holland, the shortage from these two sources of supply aggregating 95,180 tons. bo far .as South America is concerned, mal ? sa - y ? tho decrease of 01,698 tons is mainly due to direct delivery from that country to ports and points or- distribution determined by the Army authorities for the economio and expeditious supply of our troops and those of our Allies. "As regards Holland, she. m normal times, has always found a suro market for her surplus meat produce at Smithfield, and. availed herself of its advantages to an unprecedented degree during the latter mouths of 1914 and early in 1915, since when her supplies liavo fallen away, showing a decrease when compared with 1914 of 43,482 tons, and tons when compared with 1913." Ihe decreases from South America and Holland were partially counterbalanced by increasos from other sources. i!°7!i n!?° -Kingdom an increase or 13,3615 tens of meat came to the Centra] Markets. Australasia and South Africa sent 15,179 tons more, and the united States of America increased lier supply to the London market by 14,866 tons. South Africa and Brazil are new sources of supply, and in Mr. Millman's opinion, should, in time develop to a position of importance in the meat trade.. Australasian supplies marketed are tho heaviest on record.