DISAPPOINTING FIGURES.

Chronicle (Levin), 18 February 1948, Page 5

DISAPPOINTING FIGURES.

Agrieultural -returns for England. Wales and Wcotland during the 12 months ending December 31, 15)47, sliow that in England and Wales tlre total number. of cattle and valves fell by' 55,000 during the year and that although the number of beef cattle in iScotland increased by 24,000, the number of dairy cattle fell by 10,000. The decline in the st rength of sheep docks in 'Enghtnd, Bcotland and Wales during the year was 1,900,000. This retiects the heavy losses during last winter. The number of farm poultry increased by nearly (5,000,000 during the 12 months but the numbers of pigs sliowed a slight decrease. Acreage statistics shoyv that 170,000 more aeres of wheat have been sovrei. in England and Wales than in 15)46. The number of farm workers decreased from 744,000 to (55)3,000, the greatest reduc-. tioii being in the number of prisoners of war employed on tlre land. Eanners have been warned that no more than LS.OOO Germans will be left as farm workers by the rmdd'le of this year. All these will be wofkifi'g as vivilians. The Times, reviewin'g these iigures, says the returns are disappointing and show there is pooi prospect of obtain-i ing substantially increased supplies ofhomegrown foodstud's bel'ore 1950 u.n less the Government finds i't iiossible tc release larger qu'antities of feeding stufl's for cattle aniipigs._ .