WORLD’S MEAT SUPPLY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 20

WORLD’S MEAT SUPPLY.

LONDON. February 22. Weddel' s review of the meat trade shows that the imports for 1920 in the United Kingdom amounted to 800,415 tons, which was 90,000 tons in excess of any year in the history of the trade. The natural assumption that lower prices would result had been falsified through the Government’s adoption of a policy of holding up stocks in this country and at the same time selling in foreign countries. Part of the supplies were purchased for the United Kingdom. The Government policy of holding was just what would have been expected from any financially strong speculator owning large stocks, and it certainly worked out- successfully so far as profitearning or avoidance of loss was concerned. The taxpayer had gained by the consumer being compelled to pay inflated prices for meat. Food control had become a synonym for increased cost of living. A remarkable increase in the consumption of imported meat last year is disclosed in Messrs Weddell’s review. This is largely attributed to the fact that the troops acquired a taste for it in war time, and now prefer it to Home-grown meat. There is a similar tendency on the Continent. The review adds: “Statistics indicate that the flocks and herd?; of the world have not expanded since 1900. The United States, Canada, and even Australia appear to have reached their exporting limits. The demand for meat is overtaking the supplies. This is partly due to the increase in the white populations and to the improved standard of living.