ARGENTINE MEAT EXPORTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 47, 20 November 1918, Page 8

ARGENTINE MEAT EXPORTS

INCREASE IN PASTOKAL PRODUCTS In London the Director-General of National Statistics recently presented a .report to the Minister of Finance relating to the exports of meat from Argentina. This report shows that shipments were fairly equal during the years 1911 to 1915, but that they increased considerably in the last two Years, that is to say, in 1916 and 1917. In 1916 thero were shipped 112,202 tons more than in 1915 (32 per cent, increase), and in .1917, 14,168' tons "more than in 191G,, Similar increases are to be noted in other pastoral products exported.

•■■The .report says:—"lf it be taken into account that with the exception of very few items of agriculture, such as I bran, and of forestal products, such ,as quebracho logs, the country ha 3 been able to export the whole surplus of its production, the satisfactory and tranquillizing conclusion is arrived at that, in spite of-the increasing world scarcity of available merchant shipping, thero has been no lack of ■ tonnage for Argentine products. ; As regards those with which we • are at present concerned, not only has there been no scarcity, of shipping, but indeed much greater quantities nave ,beem,exported than in preceding years." '/-Statistics,and tables of prices are published' in "the "Eeview of • the liivor Plate," throwing light on 'the question of cattle prices to the producers in a country controlled by four largo meat firms. The .".Review" states that the price of prime freezing cattle was:—l9l3,-,.£r2 12s. each;' 1914 (first half), £13 16s. 6d.; 1914 (second'half), £U 3s. 6d.; 1915,-Jtt4 17s. 6d.; 1918, '.£ls lis. 'Bd.;' 1917, ,£l3 18s. 3d. -It ( will be noted that 1917 is practically, the same as the first-half of .1914. . .

:i ' The quotations of London of frozen meat-from 1913 to 1917 have been as, follow :-1913ji 2s; Bd.' per stone; 1914 (first, half), 2s. Bd.; 1914 (second half), 3s. Bd.; 1915, k 3d;'; J9IG? ss. ; 6d;; 1917, Bs. per stone. ' '•'■;.•...

The price of cattle in the Argentine'in--1913 and in the first half of 1914 enable the price on Smithfield to be 2s. Bd. per stone; in 1917, eighty per cent, of the shipment was sold to the British Government at 5 l-3d. per lb., or 3s. lOd. per 6tone, f.0.b., while the balance of 20 per, cent, was free to the shipper, and was sold at Bs. per stone, or much more thaa twice the price. Yet the price of cattle shows no advance to the producer,; nor any allowance'.'for the increase in the price of hides, etc. ..