EMPIRE SOURCES

Northern Advocate, 19 August 1929, Page 5

EMPIRE SOURCES

(BRITAIN'S' FOOD SUPPLY.

CONSPICUOUS INCREASE,

RELATIVE FOREIGN DECLINE

(British, Official Wireless.) (Received 9 a.m.) RUGBY, August 17.

Important figures regarding, the trend of (trade in food supplies ’within the Empire are given in a White Paper published by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The imports of.grain in 1928 showed a notable variation, in favour of. Empire sources, 1 Wheat imports from foreign countries declined by 350,000 tons in the year, while barley and oats showed reductions of 37,000 tons and 2000 tons respectively. On the, ether hand’, the imports of wheat from countries within the Empire increased in the year ;by 38,000 tons, and barley and oats showed additions of 19,000 tons and 40,000 tons compared - with the quantities received in 1927. ■ i

The quantity of beef from Empire ’ sources increased by 25,000 tons ,as compared' with 1927. The supply from foreign countries showed a de*. eline of 99,000 tons. On the other' hand, there was an increase of, 3000 tons of mutton and lamb and 24,000 : tons of pig meat from foreign, countries;, while supplies from Eknpire', sources showed practically no change* as compared with the previous year; ■Butter and cheese from countries outside the Empire decreased inquan- : tity by 4000 (tons and 550 tong • respectively, while receipts from Empire countries increased by 17,000 tons’ in th© case of butter, and 3000 tons in the case of cheese.

The imports of maize and potatoes from Empire sources also increased, to a notable extent.

• Further details .show that in 1924 i imports of frozen beef from' the United States and South America were more than double those from ' Australia and New Zealand, but in 1928 the position was nearly reversed, ’ the imports from Australia and New Zealand amounting to about 50 per cent more than those from American countries. V. -