The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1912. BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 49, 22 October 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1912. BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLY.

The British Association at its gathering a few weeks ago devoted some attention to a question which periodically engages public attention, more especially when rumours of war are rife. It is the question of the food supply of the United Kingdom, admittedly unable to fully feed herself without supplies from foreign countries. America supplied last year over 14 per cent, of Britain’s wheat and Russia nearly 13 per cent, of it. In other foodstuffs and raw materials, the figures are equally telling, and it would therefore be exceedingly unlikely that with so much foreign commerce concerned, the sea highway to Britain would not be allowed to remain open. It lias to be remembered also that Britain is an exceedingly productive country, though this fact is frequently overlooked or ignored. Mr Rew, Assistant-Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, pointed out to the British Association that over 20 per cent, of the nation’s wheat and flour is grown at Home on her own soil. The Home supply of the United Kingdom’s meat is, again, no less than sixty-one per cent, of the total consumption, and she raises about sixty per cent, of her eggs, poultry, etc., within the islands. For a year’s average Mr Rew estimated in representative commodities how the country’s food is contributed to. In meat Home produce supplies £78,000,000 worth to £51,000,000 imported; in dairy produce £42,000,000 to £35,000,000; in vegetables £20,000,000 to £4,000,000; and in poultry, eggs, etc., £15,000,000 to £10,000,000. On a range of nine commodities the total consumption is worth £386,000,000; but omitting sugar, tea, coffee, and cocoa, which cannot be produced at Home, local food production exceeds the imports by £13,000,000. These figures indicate a very much more intense farming than is known in the newer countries settled by Britain’s sons, and at a pinch it is said she

night oven do a groat deal better. I'lie notion that the Old Country alogether lags behind is an erroneous