WILL THE WORLD STARVE?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1236, 23 April 1914, Page 4

WILL THE WORLD STARVE?

GREAT DECLINE IN MEAT AND WHEAT SUPPLIES.

Serious questions regarding the future ot the world’s food supply are raised in the fifth volume of the Agricultural Statistics for 1912, published by the British Board of Agriculture, Mr R. H. Rew points out in bis report that an increase in the area under wheat iu 1912 is shown in thirteen States, aud a decrease in ten others. The increase in the aggregate is 2,655,000 acres, and the decrease 9,297,000 acres. Previous reports revealed a net addition of 15,000,000 acres iu 19 10, and nearly 8,000,000 acres iu 1911.

Tbe total decline in the British Empire iu 1912 was 2,287,000 acres, or more than double the increase in 1911.

With regard to meat supplies, Mr Rew points out that the reduction by 9,348,000 animals in tbe flocks of Australia is the largest decline noted, and amounts to a loss of 10 per cent, in a single year. A substantial diminution in flocks is also shown iu European Russia and the United Kingdom. Even more significant, however, from the point of view of tbe meat supply are losses of cattle iu the United States and Russia.

“The subject,” the report states, “is one of serious interest for this country. Our imports of meat have not in recent years kept pace with tbe growth of population.” Taking the chief meat exporting countries of Europe in theaggregate, it is shown that cattle have iucieased by four millions and a-halt, sheep have declined by twelve millions, and pigs remain stationary. Comparing the number of stock with the population of these countries in 1901 and 1911, there were thirty-four cattle, forty-nine sheep, add thirteen pigs per 100 inhabitants iu tbe earlier period, aud thirty-three cattle, forty-two sheep, and twelve pigs at the later dale.

Such returns as are available for the South American countries, it is stated, afford a somewhat more cheerful outlook, but, on the whole, a hasty survey of the figures does uot suggest any immediate probability of a lower level of prices for meat.

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