THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 11 



these proved successful to the extent of saving 15 to 30 per 

 cent of space. Very much more freight space might have been 

 saved by shipping a larger proportion of boned beef. 



" New Zealand. — The export trade was carried on through- 

 out the year under the revised contract made with the Imperial 

 Government in October, 1916. Owing to scarcity of tonnage, 

 shipments were considerably smaller in 1917 than in 1916. 

 Fortunately large additions had been made to the storing capa- 

 city of all the leading works in the Dominion, so that there was 

 no real difficulty about holding over stocks in store. Towards 

 the end of the year the large shipments made relieved the 

 position ; but the restriction of business throughout the year 

 added considerably to the cost of production. 



" Sales of the surplus supplies of lamb were made in London 

 at 9|d. in January and at lOd. during the remainder of the 

 year, but the total quantity distributed through the usual 

 trade channels was quite inadequate, the market being con- 

 tinuously understocked. 



" The report of the Commission appointed to inquire 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. 



" "Canada. — A further satisfactory development of the ex- 

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

 ments to the United Kingdom and France amounted to 55,000 

 tons, as compared with 15,200 tons in 1916, and 6280 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 shows signs of healthy 

 expansion, with many indications of its becoming a well- 

 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 



