FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22769, 22 July 1939, Page 11

FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER

CUTS IN MILK PRODUCTS IMPORTS (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, June 29. It is announced that a National Processed Milk Conference, consisting Of British, Dominion and foreign representatives, is to be set up to regulate future overseas supplies to Great Britain of processed milk products with a view to reducing imports by 18 to 50 per cent. Condensed milk imports will be reduced by 34 per cent., Skimmed milk by 18 per cent., milk powder by 35 per cent., and other products by 50 per cent, on the 1938 figures, Cream allocations show a slight Increase. In moving approval of the Order in the House of Commons, Mr R. H. Cross, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, explained that under the Milk Marketing scheme there was a substantial surplus over the actual liquid consumption of milk which must be produced every year in order to safeguard the liquid supply throughout the whole of the year. In the milk year 1937-38, some 28 per cent, of the total milk yield was surplus to requirements and was manufactured into butter, cheese, condensed milk, milk powder and cream, and the prices of milk for these products were very much lower than those of the liquid milk. Moreover, all the prices were pooled so that the return to every farmer was directly affected by the sums obtained for milk used fur manufacturing purposes. Since 1935, said Mr Cross, there had been a voluntary control of imports from the principal foreign supplying countries and imports had been gradually brought down. In 1936, the Dominion suppliers were asked not to exceed their average shipments for the year 103233, but in certain cases they had increased those shipments considerably, In 1938, increased production In this country, coupled with increased shipments from the United States and certain Dominions, resulted in a serious state of over-supply. Some of the price agreements then in existence broke down and others were in danger of breaking down, with United Kingdom producers forced to sell at uneconomic prices. This year, an endeavour was made to reach agreement, as regards an equitable division of the market between the principal suppliers, but the variations In the quantities shipped in* recent years made a uniform statistical basis impossible, and although some progress was made the discussions unfortunately did not lead to general agreement. However, owing to the disorganised state of the market, some immediate action was necessary. Except in the case of Eire, Denmark, and the Netherlands, who control their exports, and probably also New Zealand. which is expected to do the same thing, the Imports will be controlled by licences issued by the Board of Trade in proportion to each firm’s imports during the period October 1, 1936, to March 31 this year. Frozen Baconers Wanted There is an Increasing demand of good type frozen baconer carcases for the British bacon industry, resulting from the seyere shortage of homeproduced pigs. This shortage and the need for raising more pigs received special mention at the meeting in London of the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture, when was pointed out that a possible result of the non-aggression pact between Germany and Denmark would be the cutting off of bacon supplies to Great Britain in the event of war. Mr J. O. Steed submitted a report from the Pigs and Bacon Committee wqlch Stated that, pork being “a protected market, the pig was placed in a different category from any other agricultural product. The real difficulty at the moment was an acute shortage of pigs, .hut that condition would gradually tight itself if prices became sufficiently attractive to the producer. The production of pigs had become more important in view of the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture in encouraging the ploughing up of grassland, and also in view of the non-aggression pact between Germany and Denmark, as It was possible that in the event of war Danish produce would not be available - for Britain. He contended that the only method of Inducing adequate pig production was the payment of an attractive price. The committee suggested that the lowest price should be in the ratio of 7s Bd per cwt of a balanced ration to 13s per score deadweight, and that there should be a national insurance scheme against loss by swine fever. In the meantime, the large bacon factories all over the country report that each day finds it more difficult for them to obtain enough pigs for 25 per cent, of their, total throughout, and, therefore, they are working at a continued loss. Experience has shown that properly graded frozen carcases from Australia and New Zealand, which conform strictly to the requirements of the British bacon industry, are in keen demand.

SHOW DATES

The following show dates have been arranged for the 1939-40 season:— October 17 and 18—Marlborough, at ; Blenheim. October 19—Ellesmere, at Leeston. October 27—Amberley. November 2—Ashburton. November 9 and 10—Canterbury Metropolitan. November 17 and 18—Oamaru. November at Kirwee. November 26—Little Rivet. November 25—Waimate. December 5 and C—Gore. 1940 January 30—Feilding. February 0 and 7—Dannevirke. February 13 and 14—Masterton. February 16 and 17—Qreymouth. April 6—-Flaxbourne. Secretaries of associations desirous of having the dates of their shows included in this list are requested to send the information forward. The annual ploughing match of the Lincoln Ploughing Association will be held to-day, and that of the Rakaia Ploughing Association next Thursday.