2l6 



Poultry-keeping in Scotland. 



[JUNE, 



extended, at any rate to Argentina. They point out, how- 

 ever, that the Estancieros of that country, who are men of 

 considerable wealth, and consequently able to protect them- 

 selves, are very much opposed to such an invasion from the 

 United States, fearing that the prices for their cattle will be 

 affected by the absence of competitive buying. On the other 

 hand, the general course of the Argentine railways, con- 

 verging as they do on Buenos Ayres, and the consequent 

 tendency towards the establishment of the works in or near 

 that town, create a condition not unfavourable to some 

 combination amongst the owners of such establishments. 

 Such a combination has existed in a rudimentary form in the 

 past, and, under the vigorous and experienced guidance of 

 the United States firms, it might be brought to a much 

 higher state of development in the future. 



It does not seem likely that this condition of affairs will 

 arise in the near future, but in the event of its doing so the 

 Committee are of opinion that the situation in regard to the 

 beef supply of the United Kingdom might well become 

 serious. With the command of practically the whole of the 

 imported live cattle, and chilled and frozen beef, the firms 

 composing such a combination would be in a very strong 

 position in regard to Smithfield as well as to a number of 

 important provincial markets. In that event they might even 

 be able to exercise a determining influence upon beef prices 

 in Smithfield itself, and largely to affect prices throughout 

 the country. 



The Secretary for Scotland recently appointed a Depart- 

 mental Committee to inquire into and report upon the 

 methods commonly followed in the 

 Improvement of Highlands and Islands of Scotland in 

 Poultry-Keeping in the breeding and keeping of poultry 

 Scotland. anc j tne sa j e 0 f poultry and eggs, and 



especially into the results of the efforts 

 of the Congested Districts Board to promote this industry, 

 and to suggest how these may be developed and improved. 

 With the consent of the Treasury and the Board of Agri- 

 culture and Fisheries, the Committee was subsequently 

 authorised by the Secretary for Scotland to extend its 



