AltLougli these statistics disclose a decrease of 38,000 in our pigs 

 between 1911 and 1918, the class of pig- bred in recent years has 

 greatly improved ; and while we have no statistics as to the proportion 

 of our pio-s_ suitable for bacon, it is cer^Sin that the number of 

 ''bacon " pig-s in 1918 far exceeded the number in 1910, and as pigs 

 increase rapidly and l)reeders are improving the quality of tlieir stock, 

 we can expect a perceptible forward movement in the number and 

 standard of our pigs during the coming years. 



According to Industrial Census returns the quantity of bacon and 

 ham put out by factoiies in the Union was as follows: — 



1915-10: 2,021,175 1b.: valued at £107,524. 

 1910-17 : 2.803,190 lb. : valued at £176, 349. 

 1917-18: 4,772,4611b.: valued at £291,014. 



In addition to the above, large numbers of pigs are slaughtered 

 on the farm or elsewhere and cured for home consumption. The 1918 

 Census shows that 2,313,000 lb. of bacon and ham were so produced 

 during 1917-18. 



As will be observed hereunder, the balance between imports and 

 exports of bacon and ham during the calendar years 1917 and 1918 

 was comparatively small and leaving this factor out of account, and 

 not allowing for stocks on hand and stocks carried over, it is estimated 

 that the Union's consumption of bacon and ham in the year 1917-18 

 was approximately 7,100,000 lb. Indeed, that year would seem to 

 mark an epoch in the liistory of the industry, for, in view of the small 

 quantities of our imports, it may be taken that we -had at last reached 

 the position of being able to meet our own requirements in bacon and 

 ham. In tbe absence of statistics of production for the year 1918-19, 

 we turn to the published figures of imports and exports for the 

 calendar year 1919, which show that imports had dwindled to as low 

 as 41,258 lb., while exports of South African bacon and ham reached 

 1,393,614 lb. When it is remembered that the country suffered 

 during 1918-19 from one of the severest droughts in its history the 

 trade returns are gratifying, and point to the continued expansion 

 of our production in these commodities. 



While statistics of production are availalile in resjject.of recent 

 years only, the Customs returns hereunder indicate clearly the trend 

 of our production since Union. There is nothing to show that during 

 the past decade our consumption of bacon and ham has not been at a 

 more or less uniform rate. On the other hand, it will lie observed 

 that it was necessary at one time to augment our local i)roduction by 

 considerable importations. During the four years prior to the war 

 (1911-14) our average annual importations were nearly 6,000,000 lb. 

 This quantity, wliich indicates the small amount formerly produced 

 in the Union, has to-day been supplanted by South African bacon and 

 ham, a striking example of prog-ress. While, therefore, our produc- 

 tion now appears to be sufficient for our present needs, there awaits 

 us a wide market overseas which ha«: already favourably received 

 some of our bacon and is able to absorb our surplus. 



