Meat Supplies for the United Kingdom. eJ57 



production by the oversea Dominions, the followino' statement is 

 made : — 



"38. We are impressed by the way in which production in the 

 Dominions has developed without any artificial stimulus. The real 

 problems are those of improving- quality, extirpating disease, and 

 providing against the risk of drought, and these can only be dealt 

 with locally, and not from the United Kingdom. 



" As far as regards beef, the future lies with the chilled variety, 

 and the prospect of bringing it from Australia and New Zealand 

 continues to be remote, but the possibilities of development of trade 

 from Canada and South Africa were laid before us by witnesses. So 

 far as Australia (except Queensland) and New Zealand are concerned, 

 the future lies with the production of mutton and lamb, and the 

 development in the recent past has been continuous and vigorous. 

 The demand in the United Kingdom is increasing and the prospects 

 of developing new markets in the United »States and on the continent 

 of Europe are bright. The Imperial Government may usefully help 

 by diplomatic action in securing the removal of unjustifiable restric- 

 tions on importation and in obtaining for the Dominions a fair share 

 of the European and American trade." 



The 



Conclusions and Recommendations 



of the Committee of special interest to the Union are given here- 

 under ; the other matters dealt with are shipping, taxation, and the 

 control of meat trade : — 



" The evidence laid before us shows, in our opinion, that, apart 

 from the exigencies arising out of war conditions, there is little risk 

 of a shortage of the quantity of imported meat required to supplement 

 our home production. So far, indeed, as mutton and lamb are 

 concerned we are satisfied that the Empire can become self-supporting 

 within a few years, but the case is different with beef, as this country 

 must for a considerable time be dependent on South America for the 

 bulk of its imports. In view of the strong position held by American 

 companies in the South American meat trade, the witnesses, with 

 few exceptions, were agreed that some action was desirable and 

 necessary to safeguard the interests of British producers and traders 

 at home and abroad, and by so doing to protect consumers from the 

 menace of a monopoly, but there was no general agreement amongst 

 them as to the best measures to be taken in order to secure this end. 



We believe that the stimulation of supplies from within the 

 Empire and the protection of British interests outside the Empire 

 form the best basis for ensuring sufficient supplies for the United 

 Kingdom, and we are strongly of opinion that this should be accepted 

 as the permanent Government policy. The specific measures that 

 may from time to time be required can be determined when occasion 

 arises, but the public adoption of this policy will give confidence and 

 encouragement to British producers at home, in the Dominions, and 

 in foreign countries." 



Production in the United Kingdom. 



The Committee makes several recommendations with the object 

 of ensuring an increase in the total quantity of meat production in 

 the United Kingdom, such as (a) the provision of bulls and rams of 



