MEAT BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19062, 26 July 1927, Page 9

MEAT BOARD.

THE ANNUAL REPORT.

A MESSAGE TO FARMERS.

"Once again the Board would like to take the opportunity. of impressing on all fanners the iniportance of keeping up the quality of all meat shipped from this Dominion. With the increasing competition from other countries it makes it all the more important that \re do not in any way relax our efforts in this direction. This is an obligation that is placed on every farmer to safeguard our good reputation on Smithfield."

This is an extract from the fifth annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, which will he submitted to the meeting of delegates constituting the Electoral Committee, to be held on August 25th at the Dominion Farmers' Institute, Wellington.

Survey of the Season. "It is very pleasing to note in the interim sheep returns at April 80th, 1927. that our flocks of sheep are being well maintained," the report states. "These returns show an increase over the preceding year of 467,381 sheep, and in connexion with this it is mte -T" esting to note the increase in breed-ing-ewes. The last interim lambing returns show an estimated increase,of approximately 488,000 lambs, and it, is conceivable that with the general increasing use of phosphatic manures for top-dressing, our flocks of sheep will be further increased. "In reviewing the past killing season, which ifi just closing, from the point of view of number of stock killed, and the average weight the season may be called a very satisfactory one. The climatic conditions throughout most parts of the Dominion have been very favourable for the fattening of stock, with the result that the average weight of both sheep and lambs showed a marked increase over the preceding season. "It is gratifying to note that last season's record kill of lambs had been exceeded this seasdn by some 300,000 carcases. The amount of beef shipped in quarters this year is the smallest quantity expected from this Dominion for many years. "The latest returns ig respect of the number of pigs in the Dominion show an increase in 1927 of 43,666.

Export Trade. "The Board has been closely watching the prospects of developing a regular trade in our meat to the east and west coasts of North America, and in this connexion it had sent a trial shipment of light and heavy lambs, wethers, and ewes, to Halifax and Vancouver, and is also making a shipment of beef, mutton, and lambs to New York. . "To investigate the position thoroughly, it has now been arranged that the London manager, Mr It. S. Forsyth, would visit Canada and the United States in September, and will make the closest investigations with a view to the opening-up of a permanent trade in this direction.

Cattle Killed for Export. "The number of cattle killed in the Dominion for export (in quarters) for the past five years,* is as follows: 1922-23 season ... 125,083 head 1923-24 season ... 80,707 head 1924-25 season ... 114,637 head 1925-26 season ... 53,898 head 1926-27 season ... 41,000 head (estd.)

Beef Industry. "Some four years ago the Board drew special attention to the serious condition of the' beef industry of the Dominion. At that time the Board was able to secure reductions in costs of freezing, railage, and shipping, which temporarily enabled farmers to" continue running the necessary herds of cattle to keep their pastures in order for sheepraising. With our decreasing exports of beef it is evident that the raising of beef is becoming unprofitable. The Board could not too strongly emphasise' the gravity of the disaster if beefraising were allowed to lapse into an unprofitable industry, as it would have a very serious effect on the general prosperity of New Zealand. Should the herds of cattle decrease, it will mean the deterioration of the pastures, and the main primary products, which are the backbone of the country and the greatest assets, will be checked in their development. The problem with which the North Island sheep-farmer is faced is that, having grown the cattle, he can get no reasonable price for the beef, as on the London market he comes np against enormous supplies of cheap foreign beef. "When a comparison is made of the Smithfield values realised for New Zealand meat this season • and last, it is seen that the values this season are not so favourable,, and there is no doubt that the enormous quantities of chilled South American beef going on to the British market are having a very marked effect on the values of all classes of meat shipped from the Dominion, The average values per pound of South American chilled ox beef quoted on the Smithfield market during the first five months of this year were as follows: —

"Eeference to the shipments of ehill,ed beef from South America shows that there has been a considerable increase during the last few years. The j shipments of South American beef to the Continent have decreased, and with the lesser quantity going to the Continent, a greater quantity of beef is being shipped to the United Kingdom.

Regulation of Shipments. "One of the most important duties undertaken by the Board ever since its formation has been the regulation of supplies to the British market. The Board's policy.in tins direction has been to keep a steady flow of meat going on to the British markets over the twelve months of the year, the inLtioTbSng, »°t to hold back supplies higher jj» <j£ their consequent slump), but to have a continuity of supplies going forward thereby keeping up our connexion on the British market "In regulating shipments this year the BoaThas exercised the greatest care to ensure sufficient supplies being lent forward to meet the demands .of the trade. The past season a later Easter had some effect on the eon sumption of meat, but altogether the general consumption of lamb has been quite satisfactory. Sard's « During <^{zz™s3p£Z afthe diLent works in the and it is very pleasing.to note that the work of thele supervising graders is lw being fully appreciated by the St trade in the United kingdom.

Averquarters, quarters. age. January , .. 3.18a 4.84d 4.01d February- ' 3.50d 5.16d - 4.33d March .. 2.62d 4.65d 3.64'd April .. 2.50d 4.92d 3.71d May .. 2.47d 5.75d 4.11d