BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 744, 17 August 1929, Page 11

BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLY

LARGE INCREASE IN BUYING WITHIN EMPIRE TREND OF TRADE SHOWN British Official Wireless RUGBY, Thursday. Important figures regarding the trend of trade in food supplies within the Empire are given in a White Paper published by the Ministry of Agriculture. The imports of grain in 1928 showed a notable variation in favour of Empire sources. Wheat imports from foreign countries declined by 350,000 tons in the year, while barley and oats showed reductions of 37,000 tons and 2,000 tons respectively. On the other hand, the Imports of wheat from countries within the Empire increased in the year by 38,000 tons, and barley and oats showed additions of 19,000 tons and 40,000 tons compared with the quantities received in 1927. The quantity of beef from Empire sources increased by 25,000 tons as compared with 1927. The supply from foreign countries showed a decline of 99,000 tons. On the other hand, there was an increase of 3,000 tons of mutton and lamb and 24,000 tons of pig meat from foreign countries, while supplies from Empire sources showed practically no change as compared with the previous year. Butter and cheese from countries ouside the Empire decreased in quantity by 4,000 tons and 550 tons respectively, while receipts from Empire countries increased by 17,000 tons in the case of butter, and 3,000 tons in the case of cheese. The imports of maize and potatoes from Empire sources also increased to a notable extent. Further details show that in 1924 imports of frozen beef from the United States and South America were more than double those from Australia and New Zealand, but in 1928 the position was nearly reversed, the imports from Australia and New Zealand amounting to about 50 per cent, more than those from American countries.