MEAT IMPORTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1919, Page 1

MEAT IMPORTS.

[e (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright',) 1 LONDON, Nov. 12. - I paling with the meat situation, Mr Mc.Gurdy, of the Food Ministry, says a I scramble for meat imports appears inevitable. Europe’s live stock has been [ reduced by one-third. Britain must I import in 1920 more than a million I tons of meat, arid the Continent at least | three million tons, or as much as it is i I able to buy. At present the world’s ; supply is far below requirements. Even , the Australian, South American, and South African exportable surpluses aggregating 1,210,00 tons will, lie declares | ! barely suffice for Britain’s needs. The geribral aspect of the meat situation, he I contends, is full of menace, and j s made ’more menacing by American trusts I having control;of a large part of the EWorld’s supply. Russia, whose meat [ production has been immeasurably reduced; cpnsufiVed 10,000,000 tons of meat [ a year before the .war, whereof over , a | Lguafter of a million tons was imported. . y&j'e official calculation of Europe’s l||i'f|tiirem6rits does riot'include.Russia, he adds, disclose that Lonj don : meat traders differ as to whether [ the removal of' the official' control of [ meat would be an advantage as re- 1 rgnrds overseas meat. Some fear a ship- f ping scarcity. Others vigonrously de- i [liiand tlie abolition of the control, with ra vie wto restoring stability,-.and increasing tlie profits of the trade. Tliev declare the Government is doling out ' 'supplies ,and has bungled tlie distribu- | lion, there being held up vast quantities £ of good'Australasian meat, until it hash deteriorated. This is done in order F .merely to create good prices and con- ' ditions favourable to the English and : S1 Scottish growers. Abolition of control S( would cause a temporary slump in p prices, but it is claimed that it would not affect the Australasian growers, n whose profits are. already fixed.