MEAT FOR EXPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 273, 28 August 1948, Page 4

MEAT FOR EXPORT

Lamb Killing Record AMAZING PROGRESS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. Lamb killings this year will be a record—just over 11,950,003 carcases, compared with the previous record of 11.900.564 carcases two seasons ago. This was anrfounced by the chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board (Mr G. H. Grigg) at the annual meeting to-day.

Mr Grigg said it had been hoped .that the 12,000,000* mark, would be reached, but that record would keep for next year. The progress of the fat lamb trade had been amazing. “In a period of i 5 years, we have increased our fat lamb production by more than 7,000,000 carcases, or approximately 150 per cent,’’ Mr Grigg said. “During the war, lamb production increased by more than 2,000,000 carcases, which, in itself was a magnificent achievement. Killings of sheep increased to approximately 2,500,000 carcases, nearly double the 1922-1923 figilre. Export killings of quarter beef also have shown an amazing .increase. In the 1922-1923 season, 500,000 quarters of beef were exported, and no improvement on this figure was recorded before the war. Last season a record figure of 1,000,003 quarters was reached—an increase of 100 per cent., all of which had been recorded since the commencement of the war.

“On the debit side, we have pig production, which has fallen off considerably during the last few years,” Mr Grigg said. “The figures for this year show some improvement on last year, and indicate that the turn of the tide has been reached. Over-all, in 25 years’ production, meat for export increased by 130 per cent., from 154,000 tons to more than 360,000 tons. Of this increase, 100,000 tqns was recorded in the last 20 years, when conditions were all against production increases. “From various quarters and from time -to time, we hear that primary production is declining in the Dominion,” Mr Grigg said. “We even hear suggestions that a commission should be set up to investigate the position. As far as the meat producers of the Dominion are concerned, the figures speak for themselves. I think the effort in the difficult war years wa‘s nothing short of amazing. It is not in the field of meat production, or, for that matter, primary production that this country is failing. Need I say more?”