MEAT PRODUCTION INCREASED

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24633, 1 August 1945, Page 6

MEAT PRODUCTION INCREASED

ESTIMATE OF 30,000 TONS EXTRA

BOARD’S ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board states that the board has used its utmost endeavours towards increasing the production of meat for shipment to Britain. Early in the season when the acuteness of the position at Home was being especially emphasised, the board appealed fbr a special effort by farmers to produce all the meat that was possible, and it also appealed to New Zealand meat consumers to economise in the use of meat in every practicable way: to avoid all waste, and destroy all coupons not used at the end of each period. “The New Zealand farmers have acted up to the spirit of this appeal throughout the present season,” says the report. "It was the urgent need for producing and shipping more meat to Britain which prompted the board to advocate price adjustments in this season’s schedule with regard to certain weight grades, with the object of encouraging heavier carcases. Good seasonal conditions helped the farmers to achieve this objective. With the resultant increase in average weights and the greater numbers killed, it is at present estimated that the production for the season will represent at least an additional 30,000 tons of meat for export. The board also made a recommendation to the Government urging that the ration in New Zealand should be reduced, to enable more meat to be shipped to Britain. Manpower Position on Farms “Strong representations have also been made to the appropriate Ministers of the Crown concerning the manpower position on farms, in its relation to the vital question of food supplies for Britain. It was urged that there should be an early announcement on this matter so that farmers could plan their operations for the forthcoming season. “Whilst repeating its assurance of the sincere desire of farmers to produce to the utmost to help their kith and kin in the Old Country, the board was impelled to express to the authorities its conviction that the uncertain position of the labour supply was having a very serious effect on the prospects of meat production in the future. The board pointed out that the calling up of farmers, and labour on farms, during the present season had created a most discouraging feeling, and the lowered morale which must result from the severe handicaps under which farmers are suffering from labour shortage must definitely have an adverse effect on production. Doubt was expressed by the board as to the possibility of the position being relieved by men returning from overseas, because there is no certainty that they will readily return to farm work, in face of the easier life and the greater companionship to be enjoyed in the towns. The board summed up its views to the Government by expressing the opinion that it did not seem to make sense that, with the European war ended, men who had been retained right up to the present because of their essentiality should now be withdrawn from farms when the need for more food was greater than ever. Staffs of Freezing Works “During the season the board has also made repeated representations to the Government to maintain the skilled staffs of the export freezing works, pointing out that it would be useless to make more stock available for the export trade if it could not be prepared for shipment. The result of these representations has been helpful to the works concerned. The board’s officers have kept in close contact with freezing companies, and have indicated the readiness of the board to co-operate in any matters in which it can be of assistance, for the mutual benefit of all sections of the industry. “It is- to the credit of the freezing companies,” the report stated, “that they have been able to deal with the output diking the war years, under great and increasing difficulties in respect to the numbers of men available and the suitability of many of those employed. The loss of a large number of experienced and skilled hands who hf|v* been withdrawn for sendee in the Aimed Forces, could not fail to impose heavy’ additional burdens on the management”