THE OUTLOOK , 293 



an appreciable net migration of farmers and agricultural workers 

 from the United States to Canada. It may be assumed, therefore, 

 that for the present and for some time to come, the United States 

 has more or less ceased to be a serious competing force, either by 

 superior attractions for emigrants or by cheap surplus production, 1 

 with the temperate areas of the British Empire. 



With the somewhat rapid decline in the American competition 

 in the production of foodstuffs, the Overseas Dominions have, 

 however, had by no means a clear field in the British market. 

 Since the year 1900 temperate South America, and especially 

 Argentina, has come into prominence as a surplus-producing area 

 in foodstuffs, more particularly in meat. 2 This region has not 

 attracted much emigrant population from the United Kingdom 

 hitherto, nor is it likely to do so in the future. Its resources, how- 

 ever, are enormous and agricultural production is not only on a vast 

 scale, but is cheaper than almost anywhere else in the world. Its 

 exports of meat continue to expand, without a corresponding 

 increase taking place in the total exports of the British Overseas 

 Dominions. 3 As we have seen, however, it is possible that much 

 greater quantities of Argentine and South American meat will 

 find their way in the future to Continental markets : and in this 

 case, the animal industries of the Empire will be relieved of what 

 would otherwise be serious competition in the British market. 

 The effects of a probable meat shortage in the near future and of the 

 consequent rise in prices above pre-war levels, upon the production 

 and the consumption of animal foodstuffs in the British Empire 

 will be discussed at a later stage. 



In competing for emigrants from the British Isles the temperate 

 parts of the Empire suffered, as compared with the United States, 

 not only in having poorer or less accessible agricultural resources, 

 but also in lying at a greater distance from the United Kingdom. 

 Moreover Canada, Australia and South Africa have each of them 

 had an evil reputation amongst intending emigrants for special 

 reasons : Canada for the extreme coldness of its climate ; Australia 

 for its heat and droughts ; South Africa for its aridity, its land 

 question, and its unsettled political conditions, and all of them for 

 the loneliness of life which was known to be the lot of the pioneer 

 settler in them. Fortunately these ideas are not likely to operate 

 so strongly in the future. The importance of improved systems 

 of communication throughout the Empire by rail and steamship 



1 The United States still has, as already noticed, a large surplus in pig-meat 

 and in animal fats and oils, owing to its heavy production of maize. It -will 

 be difficult for the British Empire to compete in these directions, even with a 

 more highly developed system of agriculture than at present. 



8 See Part I., Chap, iv., p. 57. 



8 The South American output of meat (including exports from Brazil, 

 Uruguay and Chile, as well as those from Argentina) rose from 478,250 tons 

 in 1914 to 529,000 tons in 1916. There are indications also that Argentina 

 in the near future will have a surplus of pig-meat as well as of beef and mutton. 

 See Part I., Chap, iv., p. 61. Compare also Chap. i., above, p. 288, Note 3. 



