656 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



mutton iu the near future, while the depletion during- the war of the 

 flocks and herds of the belligerent countries and an increased habit 

 of meat-eating point to an importation by the continent of Europe, for 

 some years at least, that will be limited only by the means of transport 

 and the capacity of the importing countries to pay for the meat. 

 France, Italy, and Belgium alone require at least about 450,000 tons 

 annually, to say nothing of other European countries. Then also a 

 resumption of importations by the American meat companies is 

 likely. Altt)gether the demand for imported chilled and frozen meat 

 is estinu^ted at from 1,350,000 to 1,450,000 tons annually. 



The quantity the oversea Dominions are expected to have avail- 

 able for export during the next few years is estimated to be as 

 follows : — 



Annual Surplus. 



Canada 



Australia ... 

 New Zealand 

 South Africa 



Total .... 



The elective meat-exporting capacity of foreign countries, not 

 taking into account China and other possible contributors, is shown 

 in the following table : — 



Beet Muttou. 



Tons. Tons. 



Argentine and Uruguay 600,000 70,000 



Patagonia (Argentine and Chili) — 30,000 



Brazil 250,000 — 



Venezuela 8,000 — 



Paraguay 5,000 — 



Madagascar 8,000 — 



871,000 100,000 



In the course of their report, the Committee deals with many 

 phases of the subject, such as the control of British insulated ship- 

 ping, the United States meat companies, production in the United 

 Kingdom and in the oversea Dominions, distribution in the United 

 Kingdom, general anti-trust measures, etc. Of special interest to 

 the Union are the proposals for insuring, protection from foreign 

 competition, and the question of guaranteed purchase by the Imperial 

 Goverument, which are discussed at length. Under the subject of 



