214 



Combinations in the Meat Trade. [june, 



1907. 1900. 1892. 1883. 1873. 



In thousands. 



Horses, including military horses 4,345 4»'95 3> 8 3 6 3,5 2 3 3>35 2 



Cows 10,967 io,4S9 9946 9> o8 7 8,96 1 



Cattle, total 20,631 18,940 17-556 *5>787 ^5,777 



Sheep 7,704 9.693 13,590 19.^90 24,999 



Pigs 22,147 16,807 12,174 9,206 7,124 



Goats 3,534 3,267 3,092 2,641 2,320 



Fowls .77,103 64,453 — — — 



The number of cows has risen by about half a million 

 during the past seven years, while the total number of cattle 

 shows an increase of nearly five millions since 1883. Sheep, 

 on the other hand, have diminished from 19,190,000 in 1883 

 to 7,704,000 in 1907, the decrease in the past seven years 

 being nearly two millions. In the case of pigs, however, the 

 figures show a great expansion, the number having risen 

 from 9,206,000 in 1883 to 22,147,000 in 1907. Poultry also 

 show a substantial increase, while the number of bee-hives is 

 returned at 2,594,690 compared with 2,605,350 in 1900. 



The Departmental Committee appointed by the President 

 of the Board of Trade in July, 1908, to inquire how far and 

 in what manner the general supply, 

 Committee on distribution, and price of meat in the 

 Combinations in the United Kingdom are controlled or 

 Meat Trade. affected by any combination of firms 



or companies, has recently presented 

 its report [Cd. 4,643, price 3d.]. The members of the Com- 

 mittee were Lord Robert Cecil, K.C., M.P. (Chairman), 

 Mr. C. W. Bowerman, M.P., Sir T. H. Elliott, K.C.B., 

 Mr. W. Field, M.P., Mr. H. Fountain, Mr. W. Dudley 

 Ward, M.P., and Mr. William Weddel. The Report deals 

 first of all with the sources of the meat supply, and then 

 proceeds to discuss the existence of combinations in the meat 

 trade. 



No suggestion was made to the Committee as to the exist- 

 ence of any combination controlling or attempting to control 

 the home meat trade, or the trade in such supplies as are 

 received from the continent of Europe, while the trade in 

 frozen meat from New Zealand and Australia appeared also 

 free from such attempted combinations. 



The Committee observe that owing to the number of 

 persons interested, the diversity of their interests, and other 



