FOOD SUPPLIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 



The economic problems that will have to be dealt with on broad lines after the war 

 must necessarily include the question of food supplies; and it is almost certain that the 

 problem of how to increase the productiveness of the Empire, so as to enable it to supply 

 its own meat requirements for military as well as civilian purposes, will occupy a fore- 

 most place. 



The following table, prepared by R. H. Rew, Assistant Secretary of the British 

 Board of Agriculture, shows the proportions of the food supply of the United Kingdom, 

 contributed by Britain, the Empire and foreign countries respectively. The statistics 

 relate to articles produced more or less in the Kingdom, and are based on an average of 

 the five years 1910-14: — 



United 



Kingdom 



Per cent. 



Wheat 19.0 



Meat 57 . 9 



Poultry 82.7 



Eggs 67.6 



Butter (including Margarine) 25.1 



Cheese . . v 19 . 5 



Milk (including Cream) 95.4 



Fruit 36.3 



Vegetables 91.8 



Canada's contribution to the food supplies of the United Kingdom was, on the 

 whole, well maintained in 1915, particularly in view of the great shortage of means of 

 transportation which had to be encountered during the whole period. 



It is true that there is a considerable falling off in the quantities of grain credited 

 to Canada, notably in the case of wheat, but it is probable that, as in the past, con- 

 siderable Canadian shipments made via the United States are attributed to that country, 

 owing to the system adopted by the Board of Trade whereby imports are frequently 

 classified as received from the country whence consigned, and not from the country of 

 actual origin. On the other hand, there were increases, in some cases to a large extent, 

 in receipts of bacon, hams, and cheese. Flour also shows a small increase. 



A noteworthy feature is the revival in Canadian exports of butter, the quantity 

 being three times as great as in 1914, while receipts from Canada in 1913 were only 

 813 cwts. 



The high prices of the past year drew forth unexpected but very welcome supplies 

 of Canadian beef, amounting to some 6,280 tons, of which about 3,600 tons came to the 

 United Kingdom, the remainder going direct to the Continent. Had more refrigerated 

 freight been available considerably larger quantities could have been shipped. 



In view of Canada's loyalty as a British Dominion it is gratifying to be able to 

 record this new departure, and opportune to express a hope that it may be found prac- 

 ticable to increase materially the contribution thus made to the food supply of the 

 Empire from within its own borders. The Canadian Government is now alive to the 

 desirability of fostering the export trade and putting it upon a permanent footing as 

 soon as possible. 



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