18 THE WORLD'S MEAT EVTURE 



but the total quantity distributed through the usual trade chau- 

 uels was quite inadequate, the market being continuously under- 

 stocked. 



"The report of the Commission appointed to inijuire into the 

 operations of American packers in New Zealand was issued in 

 October. It practically amounted to an indictment of their 

 methods generally, and contained a strong warning against 

 their being permitted by the Government to acquire any further 

 hold on the trade of the Dominion. 



^'Camida. — A further satisfactory- development of the export 

 trade from the Dominion took place last year, when ship- 

 ments to the United Kingdom and France amounted to 55.000 

 tons, as compared \nth 15.200 tons in 1916. and 6.280 tons in 

 1915. A certain proportion of the 1917 total consisted of 

 United States beef railed to Canadian ports for shipment ; 

 nevertheless the purely Canadian trade shews signs of healthy 

 expansion, with many indications of its becoming a Aveli- 

 established industry after the present abnormal conditions 

 have disappeared. The latest live stock .statistics, published in 

 September last, support the view that the Canadian farmers are 

 making strenuous efforts to augment their meat supplies, the 

 number of cattle in 1917 being estimated at 7.920.940 head, as 

 against 6.594.151 head in 1916 — a remarkable increase of 20 

 per cent. Sheep also increased from 2,022,941 head in 1916 to 

 2.369.358 head in 1917 : but there is still no export of mutton 

 from Canada. 



^^ South Africa. — As a promising new source of Empire 

 meat supply, the Union of South Africa continues to gain in im- 

 portance. The pastoral conditions of the country are eminently 

 suitable for beef production on a large scale, the existing herds 

 of cattle totalling about 8.000.000 head. Farmers throughout 

 the Union are increasing their efforts to provide beef of a quality 

 suitable for export : freezing acconrmodation is being extended 

 as rapidly as war conditions ^^'ill allow : railway facilities 

 are being improved : and the British Government, by pro- 

 viding freight space, and purchasing full cargoes at fair prices, 

 for Army requirements, is lendinsr valuable aid to the new 

 industry. 



"Exports last vear amounted to 22.400 tons, as compared with 

 7.928 tons in 1916. and 2,324 tons in 1915. Of the 1917 total 

 only about 3,200 tons came to England, the balance being 

 shipped to other destinations. The restricted quantities which 



