THE MEAT TRADE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 20, 5 November 1935, Page 6

THE MEAT TRADE

FUTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

GENERALLY HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. MR DUNCAN’S ADDRESS. In the course of a tour of the South Island, Mr T. A. Duncan (chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board), who recently returned from a trip to England, stopped at Ashburton for an hour and a half this afternoon, and addressed a meeting of farmer's in the Tailored Street Han.

The president of the Mid-Canter-bury Executive of the Farmers' Union (Mr 'G. H. B. Lill) presided, and Mr H. D. '■ Acland (a member of the Board) introduced Mr Duncan, who, he said, liad been a member of the Board since its inception. Mr Acland said that Mr Duncan had gone Home when there was « proposal there to impose restrictions on the imports of meat and beef from the Dominion.

On the platform, also, was Mr J. Fraser, general manager for the Board.

Mr Duncan said that when he reached England he found the English Government looking to collect levies ort imported meat to subsidise its beef producers, instead of continuing to raise taxation in Great Britain ror that purpose, a burden which British taxpayers were naturally tiring, orThe first question was how were these levies to be applied in view of the trade agreements that existed oetween Great Britain and the Dominions and later between Great Britain and the Argentine. The British Government at that time proposed a mvy on muttbn and lamb as well aa »n beef, and this was one of the greatest difficulties in view of the fact that Australia had already agreed to a levy on mutton and lamb, subject to certain conditions. » Dominilon’s Opposition, Naturally, as mutton and lamb were by far the biggest of New Zealand’s total msat export, the (Dominion deputation opposed this tooth and nail, pointing out that beef was the "British Government’s problem and that the position had been brought about; oy the very large South African supplies. At that time, he added, the British Government was very determined, antifailing the deputation agreeing to a levy, threatened a drastic restriction in quantities. “For us,” he said, “the position was very black, we being the only- country standing out against this levy. After several weeks of stubborn fighting the Government, to our great relief, agreed to separate mutton and lamb from beef, and decided that it would not ask for a levy on mutton and lamb in the meantime.

“Then the Government asked us to confer with Australia and try to agree on a quantity allocation for mutton and lamb from each country, within certain limits. The Government had already decided that Argentine would still be kept at the 35 per cent, reduction agreed to at Ottawa. Australia and New Zealand were then the only countries concerned in the mutton and lamb discussions.” Satisfactory Agreement. Mr Duncan went on to refer to the break-down of negotiations with the Australian representatives, and said that finally an agreement was reached on quantities until the end of J.yb6, which he thought was very satisfactory to New Zealand, the position being that they got away from the levy and actually achieved an increase equivalent to almost 1,000,000 lambs.

“Regarding the future prospects of our trade,” Mr Duncan said, “it is necessary that this country should 'have the best men possible, those who understand the practical workings of our meat trade to represent New Zealand at any future negotiations. The British Government’s policy to i the future does not appear to he very clear. Therefore, I feel, very pleased that we have an organisation in our Meat Board.” Australian Position.

Speaking of the coming season, Mr Duncan said he was very hopeful, first because he did not think Australia would be able to ship the large amount sent Home last year, and second be had hopes that they would regulate their shipments and » not rush large quantities on the *market as they did at certain periods last year. The regulation of their shipments to the market was as necessary as the regulation of ours, if steady prices were to be maintained, and if Australia had paid more attention to regulation during the past year, lie was sure our prices would not have gone as low as they did. “Our chilled beef is, on the whole, well thought of by retail meat trade in England, its eating qualities being well spoken of, and given the right to swing over from frozen to chilled, whichever suited the convenience of our trade, which he was hopeful would be granted when we finalised the beef agreement in the near future. There would be a clear run for the coming season, as there had never been such low stocks in England as at the present time.

Reference to pork and bacon, us affecting. New Zealand, was made by Mr Duncan, who said that the quantities given to New Zealand till the end of this year would be sufficient. He was not too hopeful that the future would allow the New Zealand industry sufficient expansion in the porker trade, as the .number of pigs in England Avas increasing. Conditions in England,

“I ivould like to mention how I found things in England, as conditions there have a considerable bearing on •our prices. I was .very pleased with the general prosperity, particularly in the London and South of England areas, where things seem to be, in many cases, almost booming,” lie said. ‘Butchers seem proud to advertise that they sell New Zealand lamb, and I have no hesitation in saying that our lamb is the best advertised in the Empire, if not in fclie ivorld.” The speaker urged farmers to keep up the supply, for if the quantity granted was not sent Home it ivould be a poor look-out at later negotia-

tions. ’ New Zealand’s motto should be “Quality and still more quality.” He went.on to refer to the goodwill 1 New Zealand enjoyed with retailers in England arid to the window-dressing competitions promoted in several centres. Prizes for painting and drawing in the schools were offered, and free cinema exhibitions were given to the children, all with the object of creating interest in New Zealand meat. At many of these functions over 1000 children attended, and in one case 5000 children turned up at a hall that would accommodate only 2000, and a second performance had to be given. This form of advertisement was, to him, most impressive. Mr Duncan paid a warm tribute to the work of Mr Coates and Mr Forbes during the meat negotiations in England. He also expressed appreciation of the excellent work of the board’s London manager i(Mr Forsyth). In reply to questions, Mr Duncan said that the consumption of beef and mutton was going down, while that of lamb was going up. There was a certain amount of truth in the statement that the Argentine boosted its sales of beef by giving New Zealand lamb in at a cheap rate. It was not a general thing, however. There was one New Zealand exporting firm that had broken the price levels last year, but it had been done to entice clients in New Zealand. This firm had lost a good deal in fjie Argentine, and it seemed to,try to make up the deficiency (in quantities) in New Zealand.

In regard to the lamb export 'competitions, the board did not encourage the entry of purebred lambs; it wanted to see the cross,bred lambs entered. There was very little difference between the entries in these competitions. One of the big difficulties -in Canterbury was the Corriedale blood. He did not see why the works should not make a, down grade, as ivas done in the North Island works. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Duncan.