INTRODUCTION 



One of the most important questions at the present time, 

 when the peace negotiations are settled, is that which forms 

 the subject matter of this book. Everybody wants to know 

 what is going to be the position of the meat supply, and all 

 sorts of prognostications are being given expression to. No 

 one should have a better idea of the possibilities of stock rais- 

 ing in various countries than Mr. A. W. Pearse. For twenty- 

 seven years he has been closely identified with the meat in- 

 dustry, not only in Australia, but in most of the stock-raising 

 countries of the world. The newspaper of which he is the editor 

 and proprietor {The Pastoral Revieiv) circulates in all stock 

 countries, and I don't suppose there are many men interested 

 in the meat trade who do not eagerly look for and read the 

 information he supplies. His paper alone has well-paid 

 representatives and experts in most countries where stock are 

 reared, and direct and authentic information and tables of 

 exports are regularly forwarded by them. So satisfied are the 

 meat firms of Australia and New Zealand with his capability 

 and knowledge that on two occasions he has been the repre- 

 sentative of all the meat -exporting companies of Australia 

 and New Zealand at International Congresses, the first in Paris 

 in 1908, and the second in Chicago in 1913. At the last con- 

 ference he also represented the Federal Government of Aus- 

 tralia, and read a paper on the world's meat export trade before 

 a vast gathering of experts from all over the world. Most of 

 his knowledge has been gained first hand. He has visited the 

 States of South America and Africa several times, and when 

 the war broke Out was booked for a trip through Siberia to 

 gather information and prospects there. There may be 

 readers who will not agree with all his conclusions, but I have 

 no doubt the information he gives will add largely to our 



