The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1915. THE MEAT MARKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 65, 19 March 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1915. THE MEAT MARKET.

The war in Europe lias confirmed the views expressed by prominent men in the frozen meat business that meat from the overseas Dominions would piove a great factor in the feeding of armies in time of war. The experience gained in the South African and Philippine wars, and now again in the present struggle, shows that for reliability of quality, ease of transport and general economy in handling, frozen meat is found to be greatly in advance of fresh-killed or chilled meat. Authorities also claim that on hygienic grounds the use of frozen meat is greatly to lie preferred to the alternative system of slaughtering large numbers of animals in the neighbourhood of military camps at any time. While the United Kingdom’s consumption of frozen meat from overseas is pretty much the same, it is pointed out that the hostile occupation of considerable tracts of territory in France has tended to curtail the quantity of moat available, but the remaining stocks have provided disproportionately heavy killings, otherwise prices would have advanced more than they have done. It is estimated that probably the larger portion of the 2,000,000 head of cattle in the eastern provinces available in July last, are permanently lost to France as meat producers. On the other hand France lias imported quantities of frozen meat, not only to supply military requirements, but also in order to protect her flocks and herds from undue depletion. Belgium has practically lost the whole of her flocks and herds, so far as food supplies are| concerned, for years to come, andj therefore the necessity for this country, becoming a large importer of meat from other countries is apparent. Germany appears to have met her own requirements up to the present from domestic sources, largely aided by the great quantity of stock captured and deported from Franco and Belgium. Italy is a probable customer for frozen meat, and almost certainly will require supplies if she goes to war. When the Dardanelles is open Russia may also be expected to require heavy supplies for the present at anyrate. Moat men in London, therefore, are of opinion that in the near future there will lie so much expansion In the markets that the producing countries may find some difficulty in keeping pace with the growth of the trade.