THE BEEF MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 307, 27 December 1924, Page 11

THE BEEF MARKET.

CONTINENTAL CONSUMPTION. PROSPECTS MUCH BRIGHTER. MR. DAVID .KiNKS' HKI'OKT, increased cniirmoii.-lv, mid "ill i-nii-[inue. (iVrnmny - - iYmle i- |in>winp rapidly, refrigerated l,nrge< load lit .Antwerp hikl go rlj-ln int., .he hrart ni (iprmany. New Zciiliiud Imx landoil ~.vr, -hi,,,,, mis ~f livi-T in Italy recently, ami tin- board's London manager has 1,..n, there attending in tin- unloading and looking ml• • the future of the iradp." Such i- Ilir cheering news which Mr. Tl»\ til .lone.-. chairman uf the New Zeahurl Meal I'roducerV Hourd, lin« to give ilir pastor.ilists of I he Dominion in reporting iijMin his recent observations in England iind mi the ( ontinriit. ■The ino-l important development in the moat trade." Mate* Mr. .lones. "has the phenomenal increase in Continental consumption. Wnr many years ■nr lime been talking about the possibilities of the Continental demand, but nothing eventuated. The agricultural and '"pastoral interests. supported largely by the military class whn looked a- *the defence side and maintained a policy that would make the country self contained in wartime through protection, kept their home markets to thrnisches. and the low wages paid meant that the masses could purchase \nry little meat. •■'The war killed oil largo i]uantitiee of stock and left the Continent greatly understocked in sheep, cattle and horses. The property of the people and their needs made it necessary to throw down the protective harriers and let in frozen and chilled meats. The wages in most, parts of the Continent have increased, and the people can afford now to buy Ihe beef that has been at such lowprice?, and they like it. The people have pot their teeth into much better meat than they had in pre-war times, at a reduced price, and Governments will Pnd it difiiciilt in the future to put up the barriers of prohibit ion again. "The rapid extension of the dairy industry means considerable shipments of honed beef in the future, and prior to this we have been practically confined to one market.

'•France, the most conservative of the Continental countries, has recently been keenly inquiring for quotations, and the '■'ovrrnment are realising the necessity of giving I heir people cheaper meat. Beef has been in a parlous condition for the last three years, ami much money has hren lost in this trade, but the increase in consumption nicntioned a!>ovc is certain to improve the beef position. Beef has been below (he cost of production. The rapid increase of dairying in the Argentine is strong evidence of this, and while, it is never safe to be too sure ill forecast ing markets, 1 should advise the Xnrth Island farmer to breed the best ami keep plenty of cattle to keep his pastures in condition.

"If the Continental cleniHiul had not opened up it is difficult to see where the enormous quantities of beef could have been disposed of. anil any uiiirket that takes the glut out of Ureal Britain is an arlvHjitarrc to us.

•'Opinion in well-informed quarters in Krißland nml America is that the prospects of beef in the future are much brighter. The Continent is not so promising with mutton and lamb. They are not a sheep-eating people. They have comparatively few sheep. Beef, veal, and pork are what they have been accustomed to, and the present prices of mutton anrl lamb are much too high for them to tie likely to cultivate the laste."