GRADING LAMBS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20788, 23 February 1933, Page 11

GRADING LAMBS.

EXPLANATION BY MR C. , ' M'INTOSH. VARIATIONS IN PRICE. QjeatioM asked in the House of Rerecently by Mr J. Con--B®lSf, member for - Mid-Canterbury, ebeet the price and grading of lamb, n«n> qoflsidered at yesterday's meeting a? t)W executive of the North Canterjjgiy brand* of the New Zealand FarmUnion, when a letter on the subject was received from the South Canjcrbary Provincial Executive. '' Til* South Canterbury letter was as follows; fj£v attention has been drawn to 'ttos question o in the House by Mr Conmember for Mid-Canterbury, in rsls'iio" to fat lamb prices. It appears fist prices for lamb have varied as fola. Up to 361b .. .. 3-t 371b to 421b .. .. 41 ' Over 421b .. .. 3J "Air Connolly asked the Minister lbe*e questions: (1) On what grounds flieie differences in prices wcro justified: in cases of 28lb to 361b weights jlid 361b to 421b weights, why the price tinflWrocc was Id in New Zealand, an against Jd in London; (3) why tho •Ptfee of lamb in carcases over 421b was ifjiJr equal to tho price of wether mnt- * ;W* Eamoval of Badney Fat. "He suggested also that tho Minister (tbeuld ensure that kidney fat should to removed from 371b lambs as it was ' jffom the 421b carcases, thus bringing jiie former into the 28-361b grade, and sctariug a return of 2s 8d a carcase more to tbe producer. "With this difference in prices the Ihcaeflt of the exchange is largely lost it the heaviest grades. "Have written to the local members nf Parliament and also to Mr Cameron .jtioDg similar linos, asking them to keep a doee watch on the position. I shall ln> giaxl to have the opinion of members of vonr executive at your convenience." Sir Mcintosh'B Lotter. Sir Colin Mcintosh, president t>f the pfcWßtive, who was unable to be prej taut, wrote lis follows in answer to this fottwr: "I saa sorry 1 am unable to be pre-to-day's executive meeting; but -ss 'on« who is probably in closer touch iritVthe freezing industry than most farmers, I thought it- well to express mj opinion on the matter brought forby the South Canterbury Executive in regard to Mr Connolly's 'question* in the House. "Why is there a greater difference in tiie schedule price of our fat lambs Miet B<slb and 371b and over than is qua ted on Smithfleldl Also, why should *fda#ya not be removed f rom 371b lamb •ad to reduce it to 361b? "The margin between these two Erades—twos and eights—on Smithfield ' >3 Baually 3d per lb, but it varies up and <l«n« ateording to the proportion of pitch arriving. It sometimes happens Ihat tight* are quoted higher than twos. ** .win* the m in February of last. >eJur.'"The reason for this was that nwisg |« an ataprnaally dry season and ' a siartaifft irf teti farmers rushed their lambf into as soon as tliey wcold kill; jrith 'tbfl result that there was $g over-auppJy of twos and a shortage of , ■ -■ ■ . '■ Buyers Apprehensive. "Qw fml schedule immediately foll J«*w and'for a time all weights were quoted at the same price. This season tbe opposite has taken place. Tbsn Vita an abundance of feed and exceptionally well and farm'f,(flij%';'<ißih«nbering the good price, that. 'or heavies last year,, thought ffljlvo the same this year by "maklambs heavier. The result has ||j!«!Ni a shortage of light-weights or |vtp*i *ad an over-supply of eights and The local buyers know this and are apprehensive that Vil! be a greater margin between Indifferent grades when the consignUftpatt Smithfield, which is usually raoßths after the lambs leave the Kiotieys * Gnat Benefit. to removing tbe kidneys SwAßb lambs, it will be remembered I, ycara ago tbe Meat Board iat the kidneys must be left .ba under 421b, and this has jreat benefit to the farmer. To m tteys out of a 371b lamb ed, without taking thdm out iW over that weight, would, >9 looked on as sharp pracwe would immediately -come et with the purchaser at the however, the recognised, prae<at works to remove the kid' 431b lambs so as to put them it grade, but I think it would rrong to make a practice of the light lambs." Hall moved that the whole held over until Mr Mclnbe present at a meeting. If sd to do this and it was sugr fc Mr David Jones should also to be present.