COMMERCIAL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21147, 24 April 1934, Page 16

COMMERCIAL

FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13)

N.Z. PORK IN REQUEST

imported egg RESTRICTIONS

a-rom Our Sremo Correspondest.) LONDON, March 15. For some months, since the coming Into operation of the pigs and bacon tnarke ing scheme", and since research Selkcn by the Food Investigation Board has proved.that bacon ol firstrate quality can be made^fromt frozen Silh a much better demand all over the SUSS proofs should be the fact that temporary but awkward shortages from time to time of good English porkers have led many pork butchers to become acquainted for the first time with frozen pork Hitherto, both the retail traae Snd the public hav 3 been led to believe that freezing gave pork n particular an insipid flavour while the percentage of weight sa.d to be lo*t during defrosting was another factoi thich militated against the success of frozen pork at home Lately, however, the fallacy of both these contentions has been proved: unable to secure adequate supplies of fresh pork of suitable weight and finish, retailers have been compelled to "try out' imported carcases. As a result, they have found that not only do the opportunities for better feeding in the Dominion result in a finely-flavoured article, but that frozen pork, properly defrosted, cuts quite as firmly and profitably as home-fed pork, while the lower price at which it is sold has also acted as a further inducement for the exploitation of New Zealand porkers. The urgent demands made by the Pigs Marketing Board for registered producers to fulfil contracts, and the rush made to get contracts accepted for the remainder of the year, again threaten to leave the home pork market depleted. It is understood that more than 1,500,000 pigs have been contracted for between the bacon-curers and the producers. Pigbreeders, as a matter of fact, found it impossible to fulfil the contracts in the last contract period, which expired on February 28, and it was found necessary to extend the date for the registration of these contracts to March 12. The amazing situation has arisen of producers visiting distant markets to outbid the butchers to secure pigs to fulfil their own contracts. As another shortage of porker pigs is possible throughout the rest of the year, particularly in the later period, it seems that the market for New Zealand pigs will continue to extend, and that the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board's slogan, "The Best in the World," may eventually become as familiar with the public in connexion with pork from the Dominion as it is in regard to lamb. Baconers also Wanted Many of the leading firms of baconcurers have also turned to frozen carcases to make up stock deficiencies, and more than one well-known curer has commented upon the consistently good quality and conformation of New Zealand baconers. It is the intention of the Minister for Agriculture to see the British bacon factories working at full capacity as soon as possible. The maximum capacity of the bacon factories in Great Britain at present is estimated at between 3,500,000 and 4,000,000 pigs ner annum. While no information is available regarding the number of pigs which were actually handled at the factories during 1933, the total number of pigs which registered pig-producers contracted to supply during the four months November, 1933, to February, 1934, was approximately 588,000. The capacity of the factories in 1933 was about 40 per cent, of th nresent -nnual consumption of bacon in Great Britain. Thus, if difficulties were met with in attempting a maintain contracts over the first period, it is evident that the shortage towards the end of the year will be even greater. The possibilities existing for the development of the frozen pork trade are further borne out by recently published official returns which state that of a total of 96,084 cwt. of frozen pork imported into the United Kingdom during February, New Zealand contributed 50,922cwt, Australia 5124cwt, other British countries 3860cwt, United States of America 27,164cwt., Argentina 8312cwt., and other foreign countries 702cwt. Imported Egg Restrictions Urgent representations have been made to the Government by poultry farmers arid their organisations for imports of eggs from all quarters to be restricted by quotas in order to check the fall in egg values. The Market Supply Committee, which was set up under the Agricultural Marketing Ac;, of 1933. has had the question of imports under consideration for some time, and has made certain recommendations on the lines suggested to Mr Elliot. It has been pointed out to the Minister that if any assistance is given to the home industry it cannot take the form of duties, which are barred by the Ottawa and foreign trade agreentents. In any case, if duties were contemplated, the matter would have been put before the Import Duties Advisory Committee. Under the acts, the Market Supply Committee can consider the regulation of the imports of eggs in shell and the Minister can take action if there is a statutory organisation of the home industry in being or i!> the process of formation. The fact that Dr. Addison's Reorganisation Committee is now sitting is regarded as justifying the contention that the organisation is "in process." This gives Mr Elliot the power to adopt quantitative regulations, which is the step that will probably be announced very shortly. The Imports Duty Advisory Committee is now considering the matter of eggs not in shell. The total imports ol eggs in shell from all sources during February amounted to 1,310,154 great hundreds, as compared with 964,667 great hundreds in the corresponding month of last year. The imports of liquid or frozen eggs also show an increase, the figures for February being 36,136cwt., as against 28,972cwt. in February, 1933. PRICE OF SILVER (t«lTlaU OFFICIAL. WIHELHSS.) RUGBY, April 22. Silver ("pence an ounce) is quoted:— April 20. April 21. Spot .. 193 19 11-16 Forward .. 20 19} PROPERTY SALES H. C. Smith, of the City Market, reports following an auction sale on account of the trustees in the estate of Mrs J. A. McCracken, the sale of No. 262 Lincoln road, 32 perches with 4roomed cottage, to Mr Anderson. —7 N. H. McCros,tie and Co. report having sold on account of the trustees in the estate of A. Burborough the properly at 133 North road, Papanui, comprising a section of j-acro. with a modern bungalov of five rooms, with all conveniences to a client at a satisfactory figure. —6