ENGLAND’S MEAT SUPPLIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3570, 27 June 1872, Page 3

ENGLAND’S MEAT SUPPLIES.

The London correspondent of the Argus collates the following information on April 19:—

The statement recently made on good authority, that our sheep stock has -been reduced by two bad years to the enormous extent of -4,500,000, has called attention to ou present available meat supplies, and the possible sources of future increase. Under the idea that we ought to encourage our animal food in the utmost possible degree, Mr Muntz last week asked Mr Gladstone to issue a Royal proclamation dissuading the Eeople of these realms from eating veal and imp. Of course the Premier declined the terrible responsibility of provoking a revolt of British stomachs. He dared not face the volcanic outbreak which the promulgation of such a sumptuary law would have produced. In the recent issue of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Societg of England , there is an important article on the “ Management of grass lands with especial reference to the production of meat. Ihe total estimoted meat supply of 1871 w given as 1447,181 tons, made up as follows; From home-bred animals, 1,266,478 tons; from imported animals, 81,578 tons ; and from imported provisions, 97,215 tons. The Utter source is a rapidly augmenting one, and to it we shall have to look mainly m order to keen the price of meat something below famine rates. The Times says we must turn to British pastures and Australian sheep runs for anything like adequate supplies. Referring to the article in which this sentence apn«ars, a correspondent next day remarked :- is not generally known that Urge quantities of American pickled pork and bacon overload the markets of London, Liverpool and .Glasgow, at prices which would allow them to be profitably retailed at from 4d to g d pgr lb. Strange to say, that, although the duality is undeniably good, there is scarcely a shopm London or the surrounding districts •_ which these articles are offered to the pubhc the retailers almost invariably preferSm?to sell articles they are accustomed to. Fvfninhe agricult and districts there is Sr£m for co-operative societies, to give cwt” ana X 1 t 0 3( i to did per lb. Salt beef is equally cheap, but has never befii centimes (64). These vnoi desir#A SSngto the judgment of competent per-

'becoming gradually.recognised and appreciated, tho following report of the governor of Dover Prison to this Town Council Food Committee may bo cited i—-“ A trial of Australian f reserved meat has bcemmade in tho prison, have now to report that I found it an excellent substitute for, and superior to, * fresh boneless beef,’ and that when used as suoh a saving of 60 per cent, is effected. The whole of tho prisoners (who were entitled to meat), with ono exception, wore satisfied with it, the exception being a female, who has since been glad to eat it. I beg to give you the following extract from the surgeon’s journal!—‘ Having examined a portion of the Australian meat 'used in tho borough prison, I certify that it is very good and nourishing.’ ” During the discussion in regard to tho sources of our future meat supplies, the following valuable letter on the limitless resources of the Australasian colonies was contributed by Mr Edward Wilson to The Times :—

“ Sir, —It is very encouraging to those who are endeavouring to add to the meat supplies of this country from extraneous sources to find The Times so emphatically pointing to what should be expected from abroad, as is the case in your article of this morning. “It is, indeed, the fact that, if once the ridiculous prejudices are removed which lead even poor people to eat roast English mutton at something like 19d per lb when sufficiently palatable and very nutritious moat is to be had preserved at 7d, the quantities that might be poured into this country are almost fabulous. “In Australia and New Zealand we have now about five millions of horned cattle and 50 millions of sheep; and the surplus fat stock from these, according to Mr Thompson’s calculation, would amount to about 800,000 tons, reducible by one-half in a preserved form, from the waste of cooking and loss from bone being undergone on the spot, instead of in front of the English fire. South America possesses even still larger numbers of stock, and may some day come into the market with equal vigour.

“ But even this prodigious quantity only feebly represents what might be produced under the continuous stimulus of a steady demand at remunerative rates. Hitherto, the markets for fat stock have been so fluctuating and often so little encouraging, that settlers have had but slight inducement to hurry forward surplus stock, whereas, if once assured of a fair price, always reliable, no one can calculate the extent to which their operations might extend. The recent letter of your own correspondent in Australia mentioned an area equal to four times that of all Great Britain and Ireland as likely to be given os a concession to encourage the formation of a railway across the continent. And this fitly illustrates the magnitude of possible operations in the future.

“ I am this very day addressing a number of gentlemen interested in the welfare of the colonics, upon the subject of a proposed association for the popularising of these meats among the ■ masses of the people, through the agency of local depots, specially adapted for their sale, in all populous neighbourhoods. The circular which I enclose will show you exactly what it is intended to do. Probably, many not so immediately interested in colonial affairs as we ore may be glad to lend a hand in the developement of a trade which in the very highest degree is calculated to be blessed all round ; blessed as affording new scope and encouragement to very enterprising people at the antipodes ; blessed as adding immensely to our trade and natural resources of all kinds ; blessed above all in greatly increasing the store of wholesome and nutritious food among those classes in particular which are habitually underfed. To many among us who have been accustomed to consider 101 b of good meat the ordinary weekly ration of a labourer, the mere hint of Mr Thomson’s average of a little over lib per week to the entire population is very suggestive of a sadly low dietary. “ According to recent advices a great stimulus has been given to production in the colonies by the more active demand that has lately sprung up here for these preserved meats. But it is of little use for local companies to throw fresh energy into their operations if the demand in Europe is not sufficiently cultivated to give permanency and reliability to their transactions.”