MEAT FROM NORTH ISLAND

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 12

MEAT FROM NORTH ISLAND

SHIPMENTS OF KILLED BEEF DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW TRADE Periodically for a number of years, when the market has been favourable, * shipments of live'fat cattle have been brought from the North Island for disposal at Addington stocky sales. This trade has been practically non-existent during the last few, years, the better outlet in the north by the chilled beef industry, but W the last month or two there has a revival of the trade in a different form. Instead of the live cattle being , brought down there have been regular shipments of killed beef. These shipments have been arriving regularly twice weekly for about two months, the aggregate weight being about six to seven tons a week, or approximately 20 bodies. It is understood that prime cattle have been bought in the Manawatu district at from £l2 to £l4. a head, on a basis of about 32s 6d per 1001b, the same class of cattle at Addington yards averaging about 40s per 1001b. - The difference in price is stated to cover the cost of freight. The killed beef weighs quite 40 per cent, less than the live weight, and this is a consideration in the freight costs. In ad- , dition there is no bruising of the killed beef, such as occurs when live cattle are shipped, and, further, there are no losses such as are frequently , experienced when live cattle , are brought down in rough weather in the small coastal boats. As against these advantages, however, there is no return to the buyer from the skins, as in the case of live cattle, but this is a small offset against the other advantages. The meat is killed in the morning, or the previous night, at Palmerston North, shipped by that night’s steamer express to Lyttelton, and arrives fresh within 24 hours. The trade, so far. has not reached very large dimensions, but •it is understood that up to 100 cattle have been purchased, and yesterday a shipment of 32 quarters arrived. A continuance of the trade is * dedependent on the maintenance of the present prices at Addington, which are the best at this period of the season lor some years, on account of the poor fattening season in Canterbury. A drop of £3 or £4 a head at Addingtim would reduce the margin now available for shippers. A ■ small quantity . of mutton has also been shipped xrpm the north.