1920.] Eliott.—Position and Prospects of Frozen-meat Trade. 67 
POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE FROZEN-MEAT 
TRADE. 
By M. A. Eliott. 
As so many contradictory, and in some instances entirely misleading, 
reports have been published recently regarding the present position and 
future prospects of the frozen-meat trade in the United Kingdom, the 
following facts and figures should throw some light on the position. The 
data have been compiled from the Report of the Committee appointed by the 
Board of Trade to consider the Means of securing Sufficient Meat-supplies for 
the United Kingdom . The report is signed by Sir Auckland Geddes, and 
was presented to Parliament, being dated 11th April, 1919, although the 
first copy has only now reached New Zealand (February, 1920). It should 
be conceded, therefore, that the statements in the report are accurate. 
The Demand for Meat. 
The average annual consumption of meat in the United Kingdom during 
the five years immediately preceding the war was as follows :— 
Home-grown .. .. 1,071,000 tons = 59T per cent. 
Imported .. .. 740,000 ,, = 40-9 „ 
Of the imported meat about 16 per cent, only came from the British 
dominions and 25 per cent, from foreign countries. It has been frequently 
stated in New Zealand that the people of the United Kingdom have, during 
the war, accustomed themselves to eat less meat. This is probably true 
as regards a certain class, but, on the other hand, much more numerous 
classes have found themselves able to purchase more meat than ever before. 
The estimated annual consumption of imported meat in the United 
Kingdom may safely be set down in the near future at from 750,000 to 
800,000 tons-—equal to, say, 32,000,000 carcases. The French Government 
desires to import 250,000 to 300,000 tons annually ; Italy (if finance can 
be arranged) requires 150,000 tons, and Belgium about 50,000 tons a year ; 
and all over the Continent there is a scarcity of meat. Prior to the war 
the United States imported 50,000 tons per annum from the River Plate, 
and probably this amount will be increased to, say, 160,000 tons in the 
near future. Altogether the world’s estimated demand for chilled and 
frozen meat is 1,360,000 tons per annum. 
The Supplies. 
The following table gives particulars of the numbers of cattle and sheep 
in the overseas dominions in the last twenty years :— 
Cattle. 
Sheep. 
Canada 
..- 1901 . . 
5,576,000 
2,510,000 
1918 . . 
10,051,000 
3,053,000 
Australia .. 
.. 1901 .. 
8,491,000 
72,040,000 
1917 .. 
10,739,000 
80,106,000 
New Zealand 
.. 1901 .. 
1,362,000 
20,233,000 
1918 .. 
2,888,000 
26,538,000 
South Africa . 
.. 1904 .. 
3,501,000 
16,434,000 
1916 .. 
7,500,000 
31,981,000 
