VALUABLE MARKET FOR FARMERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 January 1931, Page 3

VALUABLE MARKET FOR FARMERS

AT HIS OWN DOOR THE DOMINION’S FOOD CONSUMPTION WELLINGTON, 13th January. When the production of foodstuffs in New Zealand is compared with the export figures, it is made plain that a very large and valuable market for the New Zealand farmer exists at his own door. For instance, the annual consumption of butter by New Zealanders is just over 50 million lbs, nearly equal to one-third of the export. The consumption of butter per head is 34.24 lb per annum, a high average, but our people are not so partial to cheese, the average consumption being 81b per individual, though the consumption in the United Kingdom is 101 b per head. That we are great meat-eaters is borne out by official figures. The average consumption of meat is 2561 b, to which can be added 14jlb of bacon and ham. Beef easily heads the list with 1561 b, while the Australian average is 1101 b. We also eat more mutton and lamb than our Commonwealth neighbours, New Zealand’s total being 861 b per head, and the Australian 691 b.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE Of the agricultural products, flour leads the way with 1891 b, closely followed by potatoes 1841 b (and the latter item cannot include home-grown), while the consumption of onions works out at 13jlb per head. Fruit is a fairly substantial item of diet in the Dominion, for the figures show that of the apple production of 79 million lbs, nearly half is consumed in the country, the amount per head averaging There is also a big do mand for bananas, nearly 25 million ih in the year, which means an individual consumption of 171 b. Oranges 101 b, •nd pears 71b per head add to the fresh fruit total of good proportions. We are also heavy consumers of sugar, the Dominion average being 85.521 b per head annually. Coming to the luxuries, the tobacco consumption works out at 3glb per head annually, which means a considerably greater consumption for the actual smokers. Peer consumption equals 8.87 gallons for every individual and spirits not quite half a gallon per head annually. Wine consumption is only 0.16 of a gallon—l| pints.