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96
MEAT SUPPLIES.
Although the weight of meat delivered at the Central Markets during the
year 1905 was 4,777 tons in excess of that received in 1904, it failed to equal
the deliveries during 1901 or 1903, to which, however, it approximates very
closely. It is satisfactory to find that the volume of trade has been so well
maintained, especially as the practice of importers of delivering meat ex ship
or cold-air stores direct to the retail trade has been more in evidence than in
any previous year, in addition to which dep6ts for sale of imported meat to the
trade have been opened at Croydon, Kingston, and elsewhere, to which many
buyers have been attracted who formerly chose their supplies at Smithfield.
The crowded condition of the salesmen's shops and the congested state of
the traffic through the Market Avenues point to the conclusion that the
maximum amount of business that can be carried on there has been nearly
reached unless further accommodation is provided, which would probably
be a matter of some difficulty. So greatly does this crowded condition of the
Market interfere with the supervision of your officers, that it has become
necessary to consider the question of further increasing the staff of Inspectors
to cope with it.
The returns furnished by the Superintendent of the Market continue to
show an increasing ratio of imported to home-grown supplies.
In 1896 the proportions were nearly equal, but last year the amount of
foreign produce was about three times as large as that of British.
This will probably continue so long as the present low prices can be profitably
accepted for meat grazed on the Australian downs, the South American
pampas, and the Canadian prairies. These advantages are at present driving
the home producer altogether out of the race, while the excellent quality of
this imported meat shows that the growers oversea can not only undersell
the English farmer in his own market, but can also produce an equally good
article.
Careful breeding for several generations from the best British blood has
resulted in " Scotch " cattle reared in Illinois being equal to those found in
the markets of Aberdeen or Huntley—"Herefords" bred in Kansas rival
those shown at Hereford or Shrewsbury, and American "Shorthorns" are
now as good as any to be seen at the great Midland markets.
The Canadians are following the example set by their neighbours, and there
seems little doubt but that many cattle which the latter send to England are
really bred in Canada, and sent to the warmer pastures further south to be
fattened.
What bearing this may have on the proposal to import Canadian store
cattle for fattening in this country it is difficult to say, but it is clear that the