39

A.—2

Date. Description. 10th August, 1910 . . . . From the Officer administering the Government of Canada. Enclosures. My Lord, — Ottawa, Canada, 10th August, 1910. With reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 324, of the 4th May last, covering copy of a despatch addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by His Majesty's Consul-General at New York, regarding the high prices and importation of foodstuffs in the United States, I have the honour to transmit herewith, for your Lordship's information, copy of an approved minute of His Majesty's Privy Council for Canada, in which is embodied a report from the Minister of Agriculture on the subject. I have, &c, i < D. Girouard, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Crewe, K.G., &c. Deputy Governor-General. P.C. 1484. Certified Copy of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency the Deputy Governor-General, on the Ist August, 1910. The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated the 4th July, 1910, from the Secretary of State for External Affairs, to whom was referred a despatch, dated the 4th May, 1910, from the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, transmitting copy of a communication to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by Mr. C. W. Bennett, His Majesty's Consul-General at New York, regarding the high prices and importation of foodstuffs in the United States, with particular reference to the importation of Canadian sheep and mutton. The Minister states that the Department of Agriculture, after inquiry into the matter, finds that the recent shipment of New Zealand mutton to New York was brought about by the fact that the British market was, during 1909, flooded with mutton, the result being a " slump " in the prices of from 2j cents to 3 cents per pound. Prices at the same time were high in the United States, and accordingly this shipment from New Zealand was diverted from Great Britain to New York. Since that time prices in the United States have dropped, and it is now the impression of the leading meat wholesale dealers of New York that there is no likelihood of the continuation of regular imports from New Zealand. The Minister observes —with reference to the statement of His Majesty's Consul-General to the effect that Canadian mutton sells regularly at from 8 cents to 12 cents per pound, and sometimes even at 15 cents per pound, lower than mutton of the same quality produced in the United States —that it will be seen from figures given below that Toronto prices for the past twelve months have been equal to and in some cases higher than the Buffalo prices, especially when the import duty is taken into consideration :— Mutton (Lambs) Prices at Toronto and Buffalo. Toronto. Buffalo. 1909. Per Cwt. Per Owt. $. 8. June . . , . . . . . . . 6-00 7-50 July . . . . . . .. .. 6-00 7-50 August .. . . . . .. . . 6-00 7-50 September . . . . . . . . ' 5-65 to 6-00 7-25 to 7-65 October . . . . . . . . . . 5-75 5-75 (native quoted) November . . . . .. .. 5-50 to 6-00 5-25 to 7-65 December . . . . . . . . 6-60 „ 7-00 5-25 ~ 8-65 1910. January.. .. .. .. .. 6-50 „ 7-55 5-25 ~ 9-10 February.. .. .. .. .. 7-00 ~ 7-50 5-25 ~ 9-50 March .. . . . . . . . . 7-55 „ 9-25 (i-25 .. 1.0-75 April . . . . . . . . . . 6-10 „ 8-50 8-60 .. ltf-15 May . . . . . . . . . . 4-00 „ 8-00 6-00 „ 8-90 That the retail price, for mutton in Chicago during the same period ranged from 8 cents to 25 cents per pound, and for lamb 10 cents to 30 cents per pound, the higher prices being for the loins and chops, which are only a very small portion of the carcase. That Canada annually exports to the United States between 150,000 and 200,000 sheep and lambs, which are sold on the United States market at prices equal to and not unfrequontly higher than those obtained for United States stock of the same quality.