Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T02:11:00.718Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Meat and Monopolies: Beef Cattle in Southern Rhodesia, 1890–1938

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

I.R. Phimister
Affiliation:
University of Cape Town

Extract

This paper discusses the history of the beef cattle industry in Southern Rhodesia between 1890 and 1938, but does so within the context of the world meat trade in order to examine the relationship between local and international capital. While certain entrepreneurs early recognized Southern Rhodesia as a potentially valuable beef cattle country, full realization of this hinged on breaking into the world meat market dominated by a few large cold storage companies, drawing on production based mainly in Argentina. Throughout these years, Southern Rhodesia faced at best indifference or at worst occasional outright hostility from such companies in its attempts to secure a place in the world market. Only Liebigs, who were primarily involved in meat extract requiring low-grade cattle, could be induced to operate in Southern Rhodesia.

The meat industry in Southern Rhodesia enjoyed certain advantages: land was extensive and cheap, labour power was produced and reproduced outside the capitalist sector, and there were stocks of indigenous cattle which were seized or purchased cheaply. But the industry also suffered from lack of capital, inadequate transport, the poor beef qualities of indigenous cattle, and disease. Despite state assistance from an early date, most Rhodesian ranchers proved incapable of rearing quality cattle for the world market. Once co-operative attempts by local capital had failed to secure markets for Southern Rhodesian cattle, further state involvement was necessary. Its limited resources obliged the state to try and attract, or seek partnerships with, international capital. However, the big companies remained uninterested, and Southern Rhodesia was obliged to settle for the Imperial Cold Storage Company which, although of overwhelming importance in southern Africa, was insignificant on a world scale. Contradictions in the state–I.C.S. Company relationship surfaced fairly quickly and in 1938 the local Cold Storage Commission was established.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Gilchrist, R. D., Southern Rhodesia Legislative Council Debates, 30 05 1923, col. 40.Google Scholar

2 An expanded version of the present article will appear in Roberts, R. S. (ed.), Cattle in Central Africa (forthcoming)Google Scholar; this will include discussion of such topics as fencing and disease control.

3 ‘Report on the cattle cost investigation carried out by the Economics and Markets Branch’, Rhodesia Agricultural Journal, XLVIII (1951), 519, 533.Google Scholar

4 See, e.g., Baldwin, R. E., Economic Development and Export Growth: a study of Northern Rhodesia, 1920–1960 (Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1966Google Scholar); Wrigley, C. C., ‘Kenya: the patterns of Economic Life, 1902–1945’, in Harlow, V. and Chilver, E. M. (eds.), History of East Africa, II (Oxford, 1965Google Scholar); Brett, E. A., Colonialism and Underdevelopment in East Africa; the politics of economic change, 1919–1939 (London, 1973).Google Scholar

5 See also Murray, D. J., The Governmental System in Southern Rhodesia (Oxford, 1970), ch. 4Google Scholar, ‘The European Agricultural Sector’.

6 See, e.g., Fielder, R. J., ‘The role of cattle in the Ila economy’, African Social Research, XV (1973), 327–61Google Scholar; de Carvalho, E. C., ‘“Traditional” and “Modern” patterns of cattle raising in Southwestern Angola: a critical evaluation of change from pastoralism to ranching’, J. Developing Areas, VIII (1974), 199225.Google Scholar

7 Rhod. Agr. J. xxvi (1929), 764–5.Google Scholar

8 B[ritish] S[outh] A[frica] C[ompany], Memorandum by Mr. H. Wilson Fox concerning the Development of Estates and Industries by the Company (London, 1914), 109.Google Scholar

9 This was the estimated time in 1912, but it remained substantially the same throughout the period considered.

10 B.S.A.C., Memorandum…concerning the Development of Estates and Industries, 109.Google Scholar

11 This and the next paragraph are drawn from S1215/1325/19, ‘Report on the cattle and chilled beef industries in South America’, by C. A. Murray. All file references are to the National Archives of Rhodesia, Salisbury.

12 Kay, G., Development and Underdevelopment (London, 1975), 167.Google Scholar

13 Smith, P., Politics and Beef in Argentina (New York, 1969), 3940.Google Scholar

14 Mss, H.. LE 3/1/1, ‘Marketing of Chilled Beef in the United Kingdom’, 11 Feb. 1932.Google Scholar

15 To some extent the quota system was also related to the limited availability of refrigerated hulls for shipment to Britain; see Smith, , Politics and Beef, 41.Google Scholar

16 For examples and discussion, see Smith, , Politics and Beef, 40, 60–1, 112–13Google Scholar; Hanson, S. G., Argentine Meat and the British Market (Stanford, 1938), 172–83, 243–9.Google Scholar

17 L 2/1/201, ‘Notes of interview with Mr. William Vestey of Vestey Bros., 12 Mar. 1913’. See also Perren, R., The Meat Trade in Britain, 1840–1914 (London, 1978).Google Scholar

18 Cripps, L., Southern Rhodesia Legislative Council Debates, 25 06 1923, cols. 281–2Google Scholar. By 1925, Vesteys were the world's largest retailers of meat; see Hanson, , Argentine Meat, 246.Google Scholar

19 Mss, H.. DO 1/1/6, Downie to Moffat, 14 05 1931.Google Scholar

20 Cripps, L., Southern Rhodesia Legislative Council Debates, 25 06 1923, col. 281.Google Scholar

21 British South Africa Company, Ranching in Rhodesia (London, 1919), 5.Google Scholar

22 Palmer, R. H., Aspects of Rhodesian Land Policy 1890–1936 (Salisbury, 1968), 9, 43.Google Scholar

23 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, An Agricultural Survey of Southern Rhodesia, Part II, Agro-Economic Survey (1955), 87; Memorandum on the Cattle Industry of Southern Rhodesia, 1921’, Rhod. Agr. J. XVIII (1921), 249Google Scholar; Ministry of Agriculture, Beef Cattle Production Costs on some European farms in Northern and Southern Rhodesia, 1959 to 1962 (Salisbury, 1964), 10.Google Scholar

24 Clark, D. G., ‘The Political Economy of Discrimination and Underdevelopment in Rhodesia with special reference to African Workers 1940–1973’ (Ph.D. thesis, University of St Andrews, 1975), 304.Google Scholar

25 Beef Cattle Production Costs, 10.Google Scholar

26 For elaboration, see Phimister, I. R., ‘A note on labour relations in Southern Rhodesian agriculture before 1939’, South African Labour Bulletin, III (1977), 94104.Google Scholar

27 See variously, Cobbing, J. R., ‘The Ndebele under the Khumalos, 1820–1896’ (Ph.D., University of Lancaster, 1976), 372–82Google Scholar; Stigger, P., ‘Volunteers and the profit motive in the Anglo—Ndebele War, 1893’, Rhodesian History, II (1971), 22Google Scholar; and Palmer, R. H., Land and Racial Domination in Rhodesia (London, 1977), 94.Google Scholar

28 Arrighi, G., ‘Labour supplies in historical perspective: a study of the proletarianization of the African peasantry in Rhodesia’, J. Development Studies, VI (1970), 216.Google Scholar

29 Murray, , Governmental System in Southern Rhodesia, 107Google Scholar. African cattle owners also suffered substantial losses under the various cattle levies which were passed in the early 1930s to help subsidize the export trade.

30 Major Chomley, G. G. F. (Asst. Gen. Manager, B.S.A. Company), cited in ‘Cattle Industry of Southern Rhodesia’, Rhod. Agr. J. XXI (1924), 706.Google Scholar

31 See Bray, J. O., ‘Beef productivity increases in the Southeastern United States since 1920’, Food Research Institute Studies, VI (1966), 72Google Scholar. See also Jarvis, L. S., ‘Cattle as capital goods and ranchers as portfolio managers: an application to the Argentine cattle sector’, J. Political Economy, VII (1974), 491Google Scholar: ‘The Cattle sector presents an interesting feature in so far as the slaughter of animals responds negatively to a price increase in the short run. This behaviour contrasts with the supply response of most other agricultural products… Although actual output for these crops is expected to adjust only gradually to the long-run desired output, there is never reason to expect output to fall when its price increases. But, because cattle production can be increased only by increasing the size of the breeding herd and/or withholding animals for further fattening, producers must bid animals away from consumers to increase the capital stock which is the source of higher future beef production. And the slow rate of biological reproduction causes the negative supply response to persist for some time’.

32 Wise, C. D., ‘Report on Land Settlement in Southern Rhodesia’, Rhod. Agr. J., IV (1906), 135Google Scholar; B.S.A. Co., Ranching in Rhodesia, 9Google Scholar; Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Cost of Living on Cattle and Beef Prices (1955) 17.Google Scholar

33 Rushmore, E., Beef Production in Southern Rhodesia (Cape Town, 1950), 55.Google Scholar

34 Rhod. Agr. J., ix (1911), 195.Google Scholar

35 SC 20/132/402, Summary of Messrs Gishford and Sambrook's report, 8 Oct. 1935.

36 Romyn, A. E. and Murray, C. A., ‘Cost of fattening bullocks of various ages in Matabeleland’, Rhod. Agr. J., XXXV (1938), 850.Google Scholar

37 Tracey, L. T., Beef on Ranch and Farm (Salisbury, 1963), 3.Google Scholar

38 H. Mss. DO 1/1/6, Moffat to Downie, 24 Apr. 1932.

39 Romyn, A. E., ‘Cattle improvements and a cattle breeding policy in Southern Rhodesia’, Rhod. Agr. J. XXXII (1935), 100.Google Scholar

40 S1801/2523, ‘Kirkley Mission to Southern Rhodesia: Development of the Cattle Industry in Southern Rhodesia’, 19 Mar. 1931.

41 H. Mss. LE 3/1/1, ‘Marketing of Chilled Beef in the United Kingdom’.

42 Mss, H.. DO 1/1/6, Moffat to Downie, 28 Jan. 1931.Google Scholar

43 ‘Memorandum on the Cattle Industry’, 250; Cross, E. G., ‘An economic appraisal of the production and marketing of Rhodesian beef’, Rhod. J. Economics, V (1971), 19.Google Scholar

44 Rawson, O. C., ‘Proposed Canning Factory’, Rhod. Agr. J. XII (1915), 487–8.Google Scholar

45 Rhodesia Advertiser, 10 Feb. 1916.Google Scholar

46 Independent, 27 Aug. 1920. Farmers' disinterest was attributed to the high cattle prices then prevailing.

47 Ibid.; Weinmann, H., Agricultural Research and Development in Southern Rhodesia under the rule of the British South Africa Company 1890–1923 (Salisbury, 1972), 113–14.Google Scholar

48 Meeting of the Representatives of the Cattle Industry of the Union of South Africa, Rhodesia, Swaziland, Bechuanaland and South-West Protectorates, Johannesburg, 24 March 1921 (Johannesburg, 1921), 2, 3, 6, 19; Independent, 22 June 1923.

49 Independent, 2 Sept. 1921.

50 Ibid. 10 Mar. 1922; ibid. 16 Feb. 1923. In fact, less than one-third of the Exchange's cattle came from Southern Rhodesia in 1922.

51 Meeting of Representatives of the Cattle Industry…, 6.Google Scholar

52 Independent, 22 June 1923.Google Scholar

53 Second and Final Report of the Committee of Enquiry in respect of the Cattle Industry of Southern Rhodesia, dealing with its Investigations in the Union of South Africa, 1923 (1924), 4Google Scholar; Hanson, , Argentine Meat, 125–6, 129–30.Google Scholar

54 Independent, 22 June 1923.Google Scholar

55 Arrighi, G., The Political Economy of Rhodesia (The Hague, 1967), 25.Google Scholar

56 Ibid., 30.

57 L2/1/134/1, B.S.A.C., Memorandum, 17 July 1909.

58 Ibid., ‘An Agreement Made the 2nd day of February 1911, between the British South Africa Company…and Liebig's Extract of Meat Company’.

59 L2/1/134/4. ‘The Liebig's Extract of Meat Company's Properties’, 17 Nov. 1913.

60 L2/1/201, ‘Notes of Interview with Mr. William Vestey of Vestey Bros’.

61 L2/1/134/4, Secretary, Liebig's Extract of Meat Company to Directors, British South Africa Company, 12 June 1913; ibid., Commercial Representative, B.S.A.C., to Secretary, B.S.A.C., 19 July 1913.

62 H. Mss. NE/1/1/2, Downie to Newton, 8 Sept. 1925.

63 S1193/M5, Director of Agriculture to Treasurer, 20 Dec. 1921.

64 Ibid., Treasurer to Director of Agriculture, 19 June 1922.

65 This section on the early history of the I.C.S. Company is taken from Hanson, , Argentine Meat, 122–30.Google Scholar

66 S1193/M5, Memo. by Rawson, O. C., attached to ‘Cold Storage Works in Rhodesia’, 23 05 1924.Google Scholar

67 Ibid., Rhodesia Ranching Co. Ltd. to Chairman, Rhodesia Cattle Commission, 1 Feb. 1924.

68 Ibid., ‘Cold Storage Works in Rhodesia’.

69 H. Mss. NE 1/1/1, Newton to Coghlan, 2 Oct. 1924.

70 Agreement with Imperial Cold Storage’, Rhod. Agr. J., XXI (1924), 633–6Google Scholar; Southern Rhodesia Legislative Assembly Debates, 25–28 Nov. 1924, col. 13 onwards.

71 ‘Agreement with Imperial Cold Storage’.

72 H. Mss. NE 1/1/1, Coghlan to Newton, 9 Feb. 1925.

73 See, for example, Rhodesian Beef on Smithfield Market’, Rhod. Agr. J., XIV (1917), 196201.Google Scholar

74 For the lengthy correspondence on this subject see H. Mss. LE 3/1/1, Haddon, T. to Minister of Agriculture, 20 Mar. 1930Google Scholar, and attached reports.

75 H. Mss. DO 1/1/6, Moffat to Downie, 14 10. 1930.

76 H. Mss. DO 1/1/1, Downie to Fletcher, 1 Apr. 1931.

77 H. Mss. DO 1/1/6, Downie to Moffat, 14 May 1931.

78 Ibid., Moffat to Downie, 23 Jan. 1931; ‘Vesteys and the Anglo American Companies which practically control the South American trade, have come to an arrangement and in quoting…[the I.C.S. Co.] has also to fight them. They refuse to go in with him’.

79 H. Mss. DO 1/1/6, Moffat to Downie, 14 Apr. 1932.

80 H. Mss. LE 3/1/1, Downie to Leggate, 7 Sept. 1932.

81 H. Mss. DO 1/1/5, Downie to Mitchell, 15 Dec. 1932.

82 Ibid., Mitchell to Downie, 4 May 1933.

83 Romyn, A. E., ‘The export of chilled beef from Southern Rhodesia in 1933’, Rhod. Agr. J., XXXI (1934), 172–3, 176Google Scholar. The greatest losses, of course, were borne by African cattle owners under the levy system. See esp. Interim Report on Livestock and Meat, with special reference to Cattle and Beef (1936); and for the 1940s and 1950s, Yudelman, M., Africans on the Land (Cambridge, 1964), 190–1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

84 Report of the Committee of Enquiry into the Economic Development of the Colony (1939), 21, 23.

85 Murray, , Governmental System in Southern Rhodesia, 84.Google Scholar

86 Romyn, , ‘Export of chilled beef’, 173.Google Scholar

87 H. Mss. DO 1/1/5, Mitchell to Downie, 25 Feb. 1933.

88 S1216/SC20/132/402, G. M. Huggins to Minister of Agriculture, 31 May 1935; SC 20/132/402, Summary of Messrs Gishford and Sambrook's report.

89 H. Mss. SM 4/1/1, D. Burnett to Acting Minister of Agriculture, 13 Jan. 1938.

90 Details of the arbitration are contained in S 1217/11, ‘In the matter of an Arbitration between the Rhodesian Export and Cold Storage Company Limited and the Government of the Colony of Southern Rhodesia’, 30 June 1938.

91 Editorial, Rhod. Agr. J., VI (1908), I.

92 Bulawayo Chronicle, 15 Sept. 1923.

93 H. Mss. DO 1/1/5, Downie to Mitchell, 20 June 1933.

94 Bulawayo Chronicle, 15 Oct. 1938.