DEPENDENCE UPON IMPORTED FOOD 13 



are set out in Table IV. It is not stated whether the 

 comparison is for values or quantities, but the results 

 agree substantially with the single year's figures already 

 discussed. 



Summarizing, of these major articles of human food 

 we have a home production to the value of about £190 

 millions against an importation to the value of £220 

 millions, £60 millions of which come from British 

 Possessions. Of meat, dairy produce, potatoes, etc., 

 we produce one-half or more of our consumption ; the 

 really weak spot is the fundamental foodstuff — wheat, 

 of which we only produce at home one-fifth of our 

 requirements. 



We arrive, then, at the following conclusions : the 

 British Islands are importing about one-half of the 

 total food they consume if reckoned in values but con- 

 siderably more than one-half if the efficiency of the 

 food in maintaining life and work is considered. The 

 payments for this food and other agricultural material 

 producible here amount to over £250 millions per 

 annum, of which two-thirds are paid to foreign countries 

 not within the British Empire. In war time this im- 

 portation constitutes a source of weakness to the 

 nation in three directions : 



1. Through the absolute danger of starvation, or 



of such a limitation of supplies as will raise 

 prices to the point of creating an internal 

 crisis. 



2. By the withdrawal of our naval power from its 



offensive function to that of guarding the 

 trade routes. 



