1907.] 



Imports of Agricultural Produce. 



617 



reached a figure which had not previously been exceeded. New 

 Zealand and Argentina, which are the principal competing 

 countries, sent respectively 1,748,000 cwt. and 1,433,000 cwt.,. 

 while the Australian Commonwealth contributed 617,000 cwt. 

 The declared value of the sheep was 30s. 4d., only id. less than 

 in the preceding year, while fresh mutton averaged 37s. 5d. per 

 cwt., compared with 38s. 6d. in 1905. 



The imports of bacon have been increasing annually since 

 1902, though they are still substantially b'^low the figures of 

 the four years 1 898-1901. In point of value the amount of 

 ^14,644,000 reached last year was the highest ever recorded for 

 this article of food. Somewhat larger consignments were re- 

 ceived from the United States, but the receipts from Denmark 

 and Canada showed little change. A distinct rise is noticeable 

 in values from 46s. 6d. per cwt. in 1905 to 52s. lod. per cwt. in 

 1906, and a comparison of the values for the different countries 

 shows that Danish bacon averaged 59s. id., American 49s. 5d.^ 

 and Canadian 52s. 8d. per cwt. 



The imports of rabbits have been rising rapidly of late, and 

 amounted to 803,500 cwt. in 1906, valued at ^1,001,000, figures 

 which may be compared with 392,000 cwt. imported in 1901, 

 valued at ^649,000. The whole of the growth is due to larger 

 consignments from Australia, which contributed 645,000 cwtv 

 The imports from Belgium appear to be declining. 



Converting the live animals into their equivalciit weight of 

 meat and adding the total imports of dead meat of all kinds, it 

 appears that this country consumed, in addition to the home 

 supply, some 22,968,500 cwt., compared with 22,457,600 cwt. in; 

 1905. The total value credited to the different kinds of live 

 and dead meat was i^5 1,058,600. 



The imports of dairy produce were generally larger than in> 

 1905. Butter in particular showed a decided rise, which brought 

 the total both in quantity and value above that of any preceding^ 

 year. The receipts of Russian or Siberian butter, which have 

 been steadily increasing for several years, amounted to 606,500- 

 cwt., compared with 461,100 cwt. last year. Sweden, Holland,, 

 and France again sent smaller consignments, but there was a 

 slight increase in the amount of Danish butter (1,675,700 cwt.).. 

 The Colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and 



