M.— AGRICULTURE. 285 



they are enabled to put upon our markets animal products so uniform in 

 quality, so even in weight, &c., that they have obtained a reputation for 

 a reliable standard article which has won the confidence of the public 

 to such an extent that consumers frequently insist upon having certain 

 jiroducts from these countries in preference to similar home-produced 

 articles. I refer in particular to New Zealand Iamb, New Zealand butter, 

 Canadian cheese, Argentine beef, Danish eggs, &c. 



In the case of all chilled and frozen beef and mutton imported into 

 Great Britain, the carcases are so graded according to quality and weight 

 that a retailer can order his precise requirements from a wholesaler by the 

 mere mention of brand, quality and weight, and so regular is the grading 

 that a customer can depend on obtaining what he requires without having 

 to examine the article. 



In the Argentine beef is graded into three qualities which enables 

 them to supply three different markets. The Australian and New Zealand 

 mutton and lamb are also divided into three grades, and latterly, owing to 

 the demand for small joints, the second-quality lambs of smaller weights 

 frequently command a higher price in our market than the heavier first 

 quality. 



By not marketing our home produce properly, that is by not grading, 

 we are not only receiving inferior prices, but we are losing our position in 

 our home markets and are permitting imported produce to secure a 

 position which it could never attain if only our home products were of 

 high quality, and were placed on the market in a more reliable and uniform 

 condition as regards quality, weight, appearance, &c. For fresh home- 

 produced supplies of first quality and of the proper weight the demand in 

 this country is unlimited, and such supplies will always command prices 

 considerably in excess of those for imported animal products. 



While personally I am opposed to placing any unnecessary restriction 

 on the liberty of the subject, I must say that, judging from my experience 

 of the past twenty-eight years in Ireland, and noting that the Dominions, 

 as well as many foreign countries, have had to resort to legislation, I fear 

 that it will be found difficult, if not impossible, to secure reform in the 

 grading and marketing of United Kingdom animal products through 

 voluntary effort alone. 



Conclusion. 



To sum up, I should like to emphasise the supreme importance of the 

 live stock side of our agricultural industry, the immense scope for develop- 

 ment which exists, and the exceedingly rapid strides which can be made 

 in its development by the application of our present knowledge along 

 properly organised lines. It is my opinion that we can, if we choose, 

 do for stock in the relatively short period of ten to fifteen years what has 

 been accomplished for crops from 1840 to the present time. Unless we 

 bestir ourselves and organise our efforts we shall find our home markets 

 for stock and stock products in the hands of our competitors, who already, 

 by purchasing the best of our pedigree sires, are placing on our markets 

 products which are superior to the great bulk of our home-produced 

 supplies. 



The pressing necessity at the moment is for improvement in our 



