THE RISE IN FOOD PRICES n 



constantly augmenting the number of food 

 consumers. The wider distribution of wealth 

 resulting in a higher standard of living at the 

 same time increases the per capita demand. 



Great Britain's position with regard to food- 

 stuffs has been exceptional. As the pioneer of 

 the manufacturing system she was the first to 

 feel the need of additions to her own supplies. 

 Her agriculture was deliberately sacrificed to the 

 overwhelming competition of the New World. 

 It is not here intended to contrast the results 

 of our policy with that of other countries, which 

 during the last thirty years, the period during 

 which the competition of the New World has been 

 effective, might have consumed large quantities 

 of food supplies from Overseas. Let it suffice 

 that as a result of our policy, Great Britain has 

 up till recently had a monopoly of the surplus 

 supplies of meat, and has been the largest pur- 

 chaser of wheat in the world's market, her 

 population relying at the present time to a greater 

 degree than any other on imported supplies. 

 It is principally with the object of showing the 

 vast and growing changes under which our 

 purchases of foodstuffs from the Temperate Belt l 

 are now made that this book has been written. 



1 With the exception of wheat from India and some 

 foodstuffs from parts of Australia the imports which 

 compete with British Agriculture are grown in countries 

 within the Temperate Belt. 



