BRITAIN IMPORTS OF DAIRY PRODUCE, MEAT AND WHEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 January 1947, Page 5

BRITAIN IMPORTS OF DAIRY PRODUCE, MEAT AND WHEAT

MORE CHEESE IN 1946, BUT LESS OF THE OTHERS (Spacial N.Z.P.A. Correspondent). Recd. 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 21 Though Britain in 1946 received more supplies of cheese than before the war, her imports of butter, meat and wheat were all substantially lower. The latest figures show that before the war Britain’s supply of cheese totalled annually an average of 3.8,000,000 cwt, of which home production was 1,000,000 cwt. New Zealand supplied 1.7,000,000 cwt and Canada .6,000,000. In 1946 total imports were 4.3.000,000 cwt, of which home production was .5,000,000 cwt. New Zealand supplied 1.6,000,000 cwt, Canada 1,000,000 cwt and United States .8,000,000 cwt.

Despite this increase there is still a deficiency o£ cheese, in Britain, owing to an increased demand due to the rationing of other foodstuffs. There was a substantial reduction in butter imports. Before the war they averaged 10.5,000,000 cwt, of which home production wa s 1,000,000 cwt. New Zealand supplied 2.7,000,000 cwt, Denmark 2.2,000,000 cwt and Australia 1.8,000,000 cwt. Last year Britain imported 4.3.000,000 cwt, or which home production, excluding farm butter, was .2,000,000 cwt. New Zealand supplied 1.9,000,000 cwt, Australia 1.2.000,000 cwt, and Denmark .9,000,000. Meat imports before the war averaged 46.4,000,000 cwt, of which 22,000,000 cwt were home produced. The Argentine sent 8.7,000,000 cwt, New Zealand 4.9,000,000 cwt, Australia 3.7,000,000 cwt, Canada .1,000,000 cwt. Last year imports were 32.1,000,000 cwt, of which home production was 14.4 000,000 cwt. The Argentine sent 6,000,000 cwt, New Zealand 6.3,000,000 cwt, Australia 1.9,000,000 cwt and Canada 1.1000,000 cwt.

Pre-war supplies of wheat, including flour, were 7.3,000,000 tons, of which 7.7,000,000 tons were home produced. Canada sent 2.2,000,000 tons, Australia 1.3,000,000, the Argentine .6.000,000 tons, and th e United States .3,000,000 tons. Last year the total imports were were 6.4,000.000 tors, of which home production was 1.8 000,000 tons. Canada sent 3.1,000,000 tons, Argentine .1.0001)00, and the United States .4,Commenting on Britain’s food supplies, "The Economist" remarks that the immediate prospect does not give rise to" any great optimism. "Perhaps the best guess is that at, least another two to three years will have to elapse before normal supplies are restored,” it says