MEAT BRANDS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20712, 24 November 1932, Page 14

MEAT BRANDS.

POLICY FOR EXPORT. POSITION OF PRIVATE CONSIGNORS. Meat killed at a freezing works for export has in the past carried the brand of that works, no matter what its ownership or by whom it was consigned. Last year the practice was discontinued iu tho Soul]) Island, and shipments by tannery on their own accounts bore slightly different brands, despite protests made.

This question was again be tore the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Union at its meeting yesterday, when the chairman, Mr Colin Mcintosh, submitted a report on the present position. The Motukarara branch bad originally raised the matter and had asked for some action to see that the permission to use the works brand for all meat killed in it was granted farmers. "It has been the practice run years for meat killed at any works to ciuiy tho brain] of that works, regardless ot whom the owner or consignor of the meat was," his report said. ''Now it has been found of late years since more farmers have been shipping on their own account that the same hold has not been kept ou tho market. The selling agents for these small consignments invariably try to realise as soon as possible, regardless of whether the market is favourable or not, and this has a tendency to depress the market, with the result that other weaii holders get panicky and force their consignments on the market, with clisasterous results to all sellers of meat. Dangers or Break in Market. "ft has frequently been found necessary by the London agents of the various companies to purchase in London meat bearing their own brand, which is heme forced on an unfavourable market by weak sellers, so as to save the market from a serious break, 'lne sole object of buying up this meat, which oiten represents larniers' consignments, was to protect very much larger tities which the companies were hold"Tlic companies contend that, as the> themselves carry the market risk oi by far the greater proportion or our output, they should be afforded some protection by having the company s brand confined to the meat over which they have the selling control. | Diflerence Made in Brajids, j ' Speaking as a director of a tarmers I company, we fought very hard against making an alteration, but were iorced i to the conclusion that the argument

was a very sound one, and I might say niv company reluctantly foil in line with the other freezing companies, io that at present any meat killed which is not being shipped through the respective company's own selling agents will carry a slightly different brand. "So long as a farmer shipping meat on his own account at the time ot killing decides to lot the company consign and sell through iti wn agents, there is no objection whr-tfc" er to the use of the company's mi' -t.d. so far as I know. In the North Island this svstem of separate branding has been in force for many years, hut it was not adopted in Canterbury until last year," he concluded. The report was adopted, and no further action will be taken. EXPORT OF MEAT. REDUCTION IN COSTS NECESSARY. "You will realise from these figures that some reduction in costs is necessary if farmers are to tarry on," said Mr Jas. Carr at the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Farmers' Co-op-erative Freezing, Export, and Agency Co., Ltd., when drawing attention to the charges -which farmers had to face in getting their stock to the Home market. Mr Carr said that recently careases of ewe mutton were shipped to London, by the Rangitata, the total weight of which was 87G41b. a s. d The value of the mutton was 72 8 8 Less commission . . . . 19 0

£7O 19 8 Plus exchange .. .. 516 3 Total receipts .. 70 15 1.1 The charges were as follows: Railage . .. 314 9 Freight .... ... 33 8 10 Freezing charges - 29 4 3 Storage charges, levy, bills of lading .- ... 7 7 3 Total - . . .. 7.': 15 1 Leaving a profit of . . ,3 0 10 The profit was equal lo 4.78(1 per head. The average weight of the carcases was : 53.701b. LAMB EXPORT. NEW SEASON'S RATES. Expert buyers wore in attendance at vr.'iLenlny's market, but on account of the small supply of tat lambs, prices wore in excess of the which, it is understood, have been fixed lor this wc-ok's purchases. These are stated to he as follows:361b and iiiider, 4ci pel lb. M-li'lb, -Ud. Over 12's and second grade. -3.Jd. The di'up in prices in the taL sheep Sf.rtioti enabled some purchases of light tnnttun to lie made, but it is umlersiood that a definite rate has not been fixed. These purcha.-.es. however, are not nccr-v-nrily i'or exnort. MILK MARKETING. j FORMATION OF COMPANY. I

Further meetings concerned with the organisation of a Christdiureh Milk Marketing Association have been held in various districts around Cliristchureb during the past three weeks. At each meeting it was decided to form the Association into a limited liability ootnpany to market milk being produced for City supply. The company will act as agents between the vendors and the producers, and all milk supplied through the Association will be ou the contract system. The Association aims to improve conditions in the trade generally. Through it it is hoped that bad debts will be rcduuou to a minimum and a great deal of overlapping in both the collection and distribution of milk would be avoided. It is hoped to have 'the company in opciation within tlio._n.cst.two .months.