74 WAGES AND EMPIRE 



present pre-eminence in this trade their ability to 

 supply the whole of our import requirements cannot be 

 questioned. 



Bacon. — Canada and Australia are both proved pig 

 countries, Canada having three million and Australia 

 a million pigs (the United Kingdom possesses four 

 million pigs). Each of them produces a large amount 

 of bacon, but not much more than suffices to satisfy 

 their home demands. There can be no question of 

 the suitability of these countries for the production of 

 bacon. 



Butter. — Our contributions from Australia and New 

 Zealand are considerable. The fact that these countries 

 already send us six million pounds' worth obviously 

 proves their capacity for this export, and shows that it 

 requires only an expansion of their present industries 

 to enable them to supply the large amount which we 

 now get from other countries. 



Cheese. — The honours for producing the cheese set 

 out in the table are divided between New Zealand and 

 Canada. Seeing that they already send us five million 

 pounds' worth, it is obvious that they are capable 

 of giving us another two million pounds' worth and 

 suppl3dng all our import requirements. 



Wool. — Wool (and tallow) are the sole commodities 

 of which the Dominions at present supply enough to us. 



The detailed review so far covers the staple 

 products of agriculture — cereals, meat, dairy produce, 

 and wool. These form the largest class of British 

 imports, amounting to 175 million pounds' worth. 

 Towards this total the three Dominions contribute at 

 present sixty-one million pounds' worth. To enlarge 

 their production and cover the whole of our requirements 

 they need merely the provision of a sufficient population 

 and adequate transit facilities. These commodities 

 therefore occupy the first category of the table. 



