N.Z. MEAT IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18182, 19 September 1924, Page 10

N.Z. MEAT IN GREAT BRITAIN.

MR DAVID JONES'S VIEWS. j HIS REPLY TO CRITICISM. (TP.O'J. OUR ow;-,- CORSLSPONDEXT.; LONDON, August IG. It is doubtless generally known by all who arc interested in the meat trade in tlio Dominion that, the New Zealand Meat Producers" Board has recently had under discussion the desirableness of inaug siting an advertising campaign to make better known in the Mother Country New Zealand meat and its high standard of quality. Mr Dat'id Jones. Chairman of the Board, has been on a tour ox the chief provincial centres and lie has come to the conclusion that an advertising scheme is not necessary, because all the butchers already, of their own initiative, display prominently labels and caras bearing words such as "New Zealand Meat, "Canterbury Laniu." Hi is practice is a rapidly extending one, and it applies not only to the big stores and to the multiple shops, but also to the small retail businesses, as well, and therefore the view is hold that there is no need to spend money on advertising in this connexion.

A Successful Method'. The Board's system of advertising New Zealand lamb by sending choice carcases direct ia any address m Great Britain has been particularly successful, and is undoubtedly a splendid means of greatly extending the trade, especially in the provinces. Better Appreciation of Quality. During his t-our, Mr Jones did not meet a single butcher "who Aras nob ready to acknowledge tho superiority of New Zealand meat in comparison with other imported meat,. Indeed, the Dominion's product stands in a cla-ss by itself, and the general recognition oi its high quality is sufficient guarantee oi' the extension of the demand for it. In these days there is not so much imported meat • from other countries being sold- as "New Zealand," while it is a gratifying l'act that wholesale prices for the New Zealand product are always considerably higher than are tho prices of any other class of ; -imported meat. Proof of this is to bo found in the fact that the mutton, and lamb—more particularly the lamb —sells .in the shops at the highest prices, and the man who retails it has come to appreciate its marked superiority.

After visiting several of the leading provincial centres in the Midlands, Mr Jones went through to Edinburgh, and he returned via Liverpool and Manchester. He has been in the southwestern counties also, .and he finds that the demand for New Zealand meat is very general throughout England. During a brief visit to Belfast, ho noticed that a small quantity of prime lamb hod been landed there, but he does not anticipate that there will ever he anything but an exceedingly small demand for New Zealiand meat in Ireland. Need for Double Bagging of Beef. There has never been a very great sale for frozen meat of any kind in Scotland, the chief reason being that the country always has had a, good supply of its own home-grown meat, while, further, with one or two exceptions, the Scottish cities are not so large as the English Provincial.centres, and they can therefore be fed without the aid of refrigeration. Nevertheless, the trade in imported meat is increasing in Glasgow and Edinburgh, though Mr Jones does not anticipate a very large development of business there in best quality mutton and^lamb. In Glasgow there is a fairly large trade in poor qualities of beef, more particularly in boned beef. In all the shops there is a great deal of minced meat and sausage meat always available for sale, and this is what the working classes seem most to buy. Last year the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board made the double bagging of beef compulsory, and the trade here is very appreciative of this improved mode of covering. But the Board did not include boned beef in its regulation because it was not desired to add additional cost to a low-priced article. However, Mr Jones is satisfied, after seeing the state in which the boned beef arrives, that its double bagging is essential for the future. Some of the New Zealand firms have already adopted this method and as the result their meat turns otit in much better condition. Handling Costs. A more, regular trade in meat generally has been done with the West of England ports, partly because of the increased demand but largely because of the cheaper handling costs, as compared with the Port of London. Mr Jones says, that Manchester to-day is the cheapest port for cold storage in the United Kingdom, and it offers very attractive terms over any very lengthened period of storage. The rates of cold storage in London, which are practically fixed by the Port of London Authority, are almost prohibitive. - At -the present moment Mr Jones is investigating closely the reasons for the high storage charges in London, and in due course he will make a report to his Board as to the best means for overcoming them. >» In some measure New Zealand has found the solution of overcoming the difficulty by careful regulation of shipments, so that as far as possible the meat is stored in the Dominion wlien necessary instead of in London. Even so, the present rates of cold storage in London are a very heavy burden for the trade to carry. * Provincial Requirements.

It has always been .known that in the provincial ana manufacturing centres it is the second quality meat that best suits the requirements of tho consumers, . and that the sale of the choice grades would be comparatively small. Mr Jones has come to the same conclusion, and he Ins been told by those who know that the first quality meat is not suited to the mill-workers m Manchester, for instance, where the humidity of the' atmosphere .and tho natnre of the work make it impossible for these consumers to digest much fat. Lean meat is what they must have. Sfore Efficient Handling. For some months past the New Zealand Meat. Producers' Board has had its own officer at docks in connexion with the work of handling the meat as the vessels unload, and ho has suggested' and carried out many improvements. The flipping companies have a f sC °rded him their full support and assistance. This inspection with the minimum quantity of carcases at 250 has resulted in a very great improvement in discharge and in condition. There still remains much to be done, but it rs anticipated that the new regulations enforced by the, Ministry . of Health to come into operation on October Ist will materially assist the Board in its (Continued at foot of next colunmi.)

AUCKLAND MARKETS. (SPECIAL to "the press-") AUCKLAND, September IS. "Wholesale trade has been somewhat easier this week, the general tendency of retailers being to hold iheir orders till next week, so that thev can secure the benefit of booking forward for the new month. In regard to cutting of prices amongst retailers, the recent withdrawal of quantity discounts on two proprietary iines ht.i the effect of immediately steadying prices on the-*: JineS. Other proprietary lines, -unfortunately, are being cut worse than ever. Potatoes—rOwing to the excessive shipments that reached this market, values declined, but there are now indications of a recovery as the Kawatiri, which is to load in Australia, will bring smaller quantities this trip, added to which shipments from the South Island are now negligible. ilerchants in the South report that there are now only about enough potatoes to carry until the new crop is ready for digging, and therefore iliey are not interested in the ■prices ruling on the Auckland market. The nualitv 01 the last lot of potatoes brought ever from Australia proved first-class. It is quite likely' that old potatoes will be wanted on the Auckland market for some ■ weeks yei, and these will require to be brought ircm Australia, where, fortunately, the price mles low at the present time. The local" crop of new potatoes is shaping very well, but it is not likely tfore will be free deliveries at a reasonable figure -until about the middle of October. Mow potatoes are now being offered for sale, but the price asked is too high for the pocket of the average consumer, more particularly when good sound old potatoes oio selling at low rates. Australian are quoted at £1 10s a ton, and Southern whites at £3 Onions—The last shipment of Australian oirions by the Kawatiri showed signs of growing, "and had to be picked over. The levv Japanese onions which camp to hand were in first-class condition, but ase ruling hic-h in price. Canadian onions are expected to reach this port from Vancouver about October 14th, and sale.-; have already i:ccu made for delivery on arrival. Australian repicked and Japanese are quoted at 23s Cd per case, and Canadian (September shipment) 24s Gd per cwt. ilaize —The arrivals of maize of late were only about equal to meeting tjie requirements of this market. So far prices have not nltered, but it is understood that the quantity available - tins year oil the Coast is not so largo as .in previous seossds. It is probable that as dairying extends there lessor quantities of maize will be grown. , The advance in maize on the Australian market will prevent further importations from that quarter. East Coast is quoted at 6a 3d to <53 Gd a biisiiei; an'd "Australian Hickory King seed mair.c; at 10s Cd. Oats —So lar as values for southern oats are concerned, pricea arc still well. maintained, as stocks are practically exhausted. Xhe next lot o{ oats from Canada is due bv the iS'ip.l Hudson on October -ltli. These have already been co:-_l ahead for delivery direct from ship's side. This will be the last large shipment of oats from Canada purchased at. a clw-np ..rate, and prices -.will be higher for cargoes imported later on. Canadian are quoted at lCd iper bushel.and Algerian seed at Ts. ■Chaff—This line is exceptionally firm thioughoiit the Dominion. Prices have advanced in bath Tasmania' and_ Victoria. Shipments arc expected by the Kawatiri from Australia and will arrive to a. bare market. Victorian or Tasmanian is quoted at £lO 10 s to £'ll per ton (in sacks), compressed at £3 10s, and Blenheim £l3 10s per ton. . "Wholesale current prices are;— Superfine quality creamery butter Is 9id a pound booked, prompt cash Is Bild a pound, first grade fact-cry Is B£d, cash Is Bd, second gaado booked Is VJ.d, cash Is 7d, farmers' separator Is 3d a pound; cheese, 9id to lOd a pound; bacon and hams, la to Is Id a pound; bacon sides, lid to Is a pound; lard in bulk lid to Is a pound, pats Is to Is Id; flour JSI.7 5s a ton (less 21 per cent, discount for 200lb sacks); sharps £8 a ton; bran .-£7 a. ton; oatmeal (25's), local £32 a ton, southern £33. OXFORD MARKET. At the Oxford .market yesterday, 446 sheep and 21 head of cattle were yarded. Business was very dull and over a third 1 of the sheep were passed in. The Gales were: 15 fat ewes at 32s 6d, 14 at 28s 6d, and 7 at 37s 7d. Stares: 19 aged ewea and 20 lambs at 18s 2d all counted, 29 ewes and 29 lambs at 14s Id, and 63 ewea and <36 lambs at ISs lid. In the cattle department, the best springers made £3 10s to £7, • low-conditioned springers £1 1-Os to £3, and yearling heifers 20s. GERALDINE STOCK SALE. As a consequence of the long continued dry weather and the shortage of feed, there was practically no demand for sheep or cattle. A pen of 57 ewea and lambs sold at 14s Id a. head;, ajid a pen of ewes in lamb brought 27s 9d each. No other sheep were sold. Good cows about to calve for the second time realised £4 10s, but others were unsaleable. There was a good entry of pigs. Weaners brought from 15s to 20s, and stores from 22s to 31s.