PRODUCTION IN RELATION TO CONSUMPTION 273 



foodstuffs to be produced incidentally and to a limited extent with- 

 out interfering with the production of plant foodstuffs for human 

 consumption. Not only, however, are animal foodstuffs regarded 

 as an essential part of the diet of European peoples, but the average 

 per capita consumption of them tends to increase under favourable 

 conditions, that is, when sufficient supplies are available at prices 

 within the means of consumers. The factors that are potentially 

 effective in bringing about these favourable conditions fall mainly 

 under the head of production, but partly under that of consumption. 



In consumption some saving can be indirectly effected by the 

 substitution within certain limits of some animal foodstuffs that 

 can be more economically produced, for others that are less so ; 

 waste can be considerably reduced, and the losses due to bad 

 handling and storage largely avoided. Such developments are 

 more likely to make progress during a time of shortage such as is 

 to be anticipated in the near future ; but the changes, when once 

 established, are likely to become more or less permanent, even if 

 the shortage disappears subsequently. Their real effect is to bring 

 about a better utilisation of the resources and supplies available, 

 and thereby to increase the consumption in terms of food values 

 beyond what it would otherwise be. In another direction consump- 

 tion tends to increase with any rise in the purchasing power of 

 industrial populations. Here, however, the increase is liable to 

 be checked by the rise in the price per unit, since the production of 

 animal foodstuffs is not very elastic in short periods. A permanent 

 improvement in the economic position of the industrial classes, 

 due, for example, to a great rise in the level of real wages, would 

 stimulate the whole industry of agriculture and animal industries 

 in particular, under the influence of the higher prices which con- 

 sumers would be able to pay. 



However, the key to the whole situation lies in the conditions 

 and the methods of production, not only in animal industries them- 

 selves, but also in the whole field of agriculture. Some attempt 

 has been made in this enquiry to indicate in what directions the 

 problems relating to these matters lie. 



