252 NIK WORLDS MEAT FUTURE 



African fanner of Boer extraction saw that he was only eigh- 

 teen or twenty days from the London market. He appreciated 

 the proximity to such a market, and he set out to develop a 

 connection with it. At the time of the I'oer War. South Africa 

 imported large quantities of meat, chiefly from Australia, and 

 for years after the war these importations continued. The 

 imports of beef and mutton in 1903 (excluding the quantities 

 brought into South Africa by Orange Free State) were valued 

 at £2,885,000 ; in 1906, £757,000 ; in 1913, £105,000 ; and in 

 1915. £593, so that the quantities steadily diminished each 

 year, until in 1915 they almost reached vanishing point. On 

 the other hand, exports show a consistent increase from 1914, 

 when 55 tons, valued at £2,408, were sent overseas ; in 1915, 

 2274 tons were sent, value £86,000 ; and in 1916, 5520 tons, 

 total value £215,735, 2150 tons being for civilian and 3370 tons 

 for army purposes. The figures of last year are not yet avail- 

 able, but the estimate is 21,000 tons — 1000 tons for the United 

 Kingdom and 20,000 tons for the Army, all these quantities 

 being exclusive of supplies for ships' stores. 



Australia has a particular interest in the development of the 

 sheep and wool industry of South Africa, because South African 

 sheep-breeders have for many years been extensive purchasers 

 from Australian stud Merino flocks. As a matter of fact, the 

 leading stud flocks of Australia are just as familiar to South 

 African stud-breeders as they are to Australian and the merits 

 of rival Australian flocks are just as hotly discussed in South 

 Africa as they are in their own country, probably more so. 



The importations of Australian stud Merinos into South 



Africa from 1906 until the outbreak of war have been as 



follows : — 



Fear. Xo. of Sheep. Value. 



L906 10,782 £29,489 



1907 • .. 5,380 21.495 



L908 6,932 15,720 



L909 1,421 15.774 



1910 2,344 20,1*97 



l'.tll 2,440 20,470 



1912 5,234 35,545 



1913 5,349 36,165 



L914 2,581 . 18,370 



South African stud-breeders have shown great enterprise, 

 and have proved themselves to be equal to their Australian 



