FROZEN MEAT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19985, 21 July 1930, Page 12

FROZEN MEAT.

MARKETING AT HOME. SURVEY BY CHAIRMAN OF BOARD. The chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, Mr David Jones. M.P., returned to Christchurch; yesterday. He arrived back in New Zealand last week after a visit to Great Britain on business connected nith the operations of tho Board, and in an interview with a representative of The Pbess he had an interesting account to give of the marketing of New Zealand lamb and mutton at Home- ' The handling of New Zealand meat has greatly improved since my last, visit to Great Britain," he said, "and 10-day our mutton and lamb are certainly marketed along much better lines tban that l'rotn the Argentine. This is due to strict supervision of the. Board, both in New Zealand and in London, and' to the co-operation received in the work from the shipping companies and others interested in the marketing of our products. Cause of Pall In Price. "When I arrived in England the price of lamb had fallen considerably, duo in tho main to the tremendous shipments from the Argentine. In the previous years Isouth America had supplied the Home market with 750,000 carcases, taking an average, and the size of recent shipments, which have broken all records, will be realised when it is stated that in March last South America shipped 866,000 carcases Home, and that following heavy shipments in both January and February. These huge early arrivals had a very injurious effect on the market, and the low price of lamb was quickly reflected in the retail section of the trade bv a rapid increase in consumption. Those interested made every effort to hold and increase the price, and by their efforts it was brought back to about 9d a lb for Canterbury seconds, which in view of the supplies of lamb available, and in sight, should be considered satisfactory. Splendid Advertising. "I believe the main reason for the firming of New Zealand lamb values was the intensive advertising campaign conducted, over the last two or three years particularly. We have been supplying to butchers of Great Britain, free of cost, attractive streamers and placards for their shops, which emphasise the quality and superiority of New Zealand meat. These are being displayed in over 20.000 uhops in Great Britain this year, and are eagerly sought by retail traders. In addition other similar matter is distributed by butchers to consumers, and over 3.000,000 booklets have been sent out to householders this vear. These latter stress the fact that the meat is of Empire origin, comes from a country which 's free of disease, and is killed under Government veterinary inspection. It is one _of the most effective methods of advertising in Great Britain, and it is possible only because every butcher want* to tell the public when'lie has f»ot New Zeilnnd lamb in his shop. My Board has thoroughly exploited this fact with good results to the prodneere.

"Recently gome of the wholesalers have commenced delivering our meat, and ono has. p. service •which extends to within>a radius of 100 miles from London, and ia free of cost. Butchers are sopolied with a weekly price list from wholesale firms, and. can order either direct from ship or from cold store. Grading System. "The grading of New Zealand meat i« such to-day that a butcher can order by (trade with perfect confidence, and distributions by wholesalers, as I have set out, are increasing in numbers. "I consider our market centres in Great Britain are well distributed, and we do not require any extension of them. To-day we have a freight contract. which feeds- Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and London, and any other part-which will take 15,000' carcases can secure a shipment according to a special arrangement under the same freight contract. Retail Misrepresentations. When asked whether it was correct that some retailers in Great Britain sold lamb not from New Zealand, as the Dominion product, Mr Jones said: that that statement was true, and some meat not from this country was represented as "New Zealand." ''To # combat this we now have a travelling agent in England," he continued, "who has already secured a number of prosecutions for such type of misrepresentation. There were five firms before the Court at Liverpool the day I left, and there were several other prosecutions pending. However it is no easy task to secure evidence to prove origin of production when a carcase has been cut up. "I would like to add that I do not think that the practiee of representing other meat aa the New Zealand product is carried out to the extent ■ that some imagine. Most firms, who have to kee]> their customers, know that the giving of a wrong supply is soon detected and leads to falling away of business. "The only effective remedy would be the marking of New Zealand meat. The British Government has a compulsory marking system for beef, and is discussing applying that system to lamb and mutton, but difficulty is being experienced to get the trade to accept the proposal. If it is adopted then it might be necessary for New Zealand to adopt similar marking methods. Prospects. In the East. "No v 1 do not think New Zealand has much chance of securing and developing a market in the East,'' said Mr Jones in reply to a further question. "Australia is much closer and has an infinitely better shipping service. In reference to the East few people know that _ Manchuria sends home one or two shipments of meat to the London market in a year. The Board has kept a close watch on the markets of the East, but to date have not considered it worth while to attempt to develop a trade with that quarter." Marketing Board Praised. Mr Jones was loud in his praises of the work done by the Empire Marketing Board in Great Britain. "It is doing exceedingly valuable work for the Empire," he said. "Its big posters are to be seen all over England explaining the. need for buying Empire goods, and quite recently the Board held_ a huge exhibition in Glasgow at which each Dominion was given a period. .The meat salesmen in Glasgow say that it gave our trade there a big help. Valuable Research. "The Board is also doing valuable research work and to-day is sharing with the. New Zealand Meat Produce Board the cost of a survey of refrigerated meat from the freezing works of New Zealand to the Home market. Dr. Griffiths and Dr. Vickery, with their assistants, were in New Zealand, and are now investigating in the cold stores in London. . "Tneir report should be issued shortly, and it is being looked forward to with great interest aa it is the

most important work oi its kind so far attempted.

"The Marketing Board is at present communicating with all the public bodies interested in or controlling charitable institutions urging the need for using Empire goods. It has secured from the London County Council a contract that only New Zealand mutton and lamb be supplied to such places under its control, and that has meant quite a substantial gain to our trade. We are very fortunate, too,' that Mr It. S. Forsyth, our manager in London, is a member of the Empire Marketing Board, and he has done much good -work on it for New Zealand."

TRADING ACCOUNT. TOMATO-GROWERS' PROPOSAL. The question of establishing a trading account for the benefit of members was discussed by the Christchurch Tomato and Stone Fruit Growers' Association at a mooting of the Association held on Saturday night. The president, Mr C. J. Fineran, said that the matter would require a great deal of thought and careful enquiry, and it could not be decided quickly. Mr G. Billson suggested that it should be held over and discussed by another meeting. "We have our hands full already," he said, "and it would be unwise to launch out into any risky business.'' Mr C. Pope said that the matter should be held over, and discussed at a later meeting. Tho president said that it would be necessary to employ a paid secretary or organiser. It was decided to defer consideration of the matter until the next meeting. Mr C. Pope, the president, and other delegates to the Dominion Conference, held recently in Wellington, reported on the business transacted, stating that the whole conference had been very satisfactory. ADVERTISING PAYS ALL ROUND. LORD RIDDELL ON BENEFIT TO READERS. "Advertising is an essential part of modern commercial machinery," said Lord Biddell, chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Great Britain, and president of the Advertising Association, speaking to the Imperial Press delegates at Grosvenor House, London, last month. "Advertisers should offer the right goods and service, and market them in the right way," Lord Riddell continued. "The reader profits by advertising beGauße, by supporting the (advertiser, the reader gets a larger and better paper for his money: "It gives one a pang," said Lord Riddell, "to look at the overseas and Colonial newspapers and see tho preponderance of American advertising." Sir Ernest Benn said we had yet to learn the basic economic truth that the selling and distribution of commodities were even more important, and certainly more difficult, than the making of them. The retailer still expected the manufacturer to find his market for him.

. Sir William. Crawford, vice-chairman of the Publicity Committee of tho Empire Marketing Board, said that in the last six or seven years the expenditure on advertising in the newspapers had risen from £50,000,000 to £ 150,000,000, and all observers were agreed that this business was still in its infancy. HAYS, LTD. PURCHASE OF MACKY, LOGAN, CALDWELL'S STOCK. Hays, Ltd., Gloucester street, have just completed a big deal, having purchased the stock of Macky, Logan, Caldwell, Ltd., Warehousemen, of Lichfield street, Christchurch. Macky, Logan, Caldwell, Ltd.', have closed down their South Island business, and the stock of this large warehouse has been purchased by Hays, Ltd. —1 AUSTRALIAN ORANGES IN . CANADA. (TJKITED PRISS ASSOCIATION —*X ELECTBIO TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) VANCOUVER, July 18. Australia entered vigorously into the battle for Canada's orange market with the arrival of 800 cases bv the Aoraingi. .Up to now a monopoly has been enjoved by California. Now Australia, Japan, and Brazil, are endeavouring to secure a market. The wholesalers state that the Australian shipment is in prime condition, and the price is attractive. They predict a good market. OVERSEAS TRADE. THE JUNE FIGURES. Of AC'S! ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 19. The figures for the overseas trade of New Zealand for the month of June, 1930, show exports valued at £3,741,311 and imports valued at £3,404,084. For the corresponding period last year the figures were £4,737,774 and £3,425,365 respectively. For the period of six months ended June, 1930, the exports were valued at £29,780,691,, and the imports at £22,567.543 For the corresponding period last year the figures were £37,771,541, and £22,537,443 respectively. ARMY AND NAVY FOOD SUPPLIES. AN AMERICAN INVESTIGATION. (united press association—bx hlectbic TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received July 20th, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 19. President Hoover has- appointed a Committee to investigate the amount of foodstuffs now purchased by the army and navy outside of America. Beef, beans; corn, and dairy products are obtained from New Zealand and Australia for the troops iri Hawaii, the Philippines, and the Canal Zone. The Committee was set up as a result of complaints made by cattlemen and other producers that the surplus of these goods in the United States kept prices fcfc low levels.