N.Z. PRODUCE EXPORTS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25099, 3 February 1947, Page 8

N.Z. PRODUCE EXPORTS

DIVERSION OF TONNAGE TO ARGENTINE BARRIERS TO NORMAL TRADING LONDON, Jan. 22 In shipping circles in London it is anticipated that the freight position for New Zealand produce exports-will become rather more difficult in the weeks ahead through the resolving of the Argentine labour problems and the consequent diversion there of refrigerated tonnage. However, primary producers are assured by the Ministry of Transport that their* needs will be covered.

Telescoping and deboning of meat are still with us nearly two years after the end of war, at a period when our planners would have led us to believe that normal trade practices would be ruling. A leading official of the Nev Zealand Marketing Department has emphasised that his department is constanly reviewing with-the •authorities concerned here in London, the question of presenting New Zealand meat on the English market in its most favourable form,, but that meat must take its “place in the queue’’ with other commodities.

Would the British public like all fully-boned beef and non-telescoped mutton to the exclusion, say, New Zealand Cox’s Orange apples? Such would have to be the case with the present freight available. , New Zealand fruit has become a sufficiently firm favourite on the United Kingdom market for the public to want it and to bear a little longer with the war-, time modes of . meat carriage; A technical detail concerned with themarketing of full quarters of bone-ih beef is that it is doubtful whether there is sufficient stockinette available to 'allow this procedure..

The above barriers to normal trading do not, however, discourage the New Zealand officials here in. London from presenting to the trade interests from time to time displays of Dominion produce “as it should .be’’ as regards condition, quality and conformation. Thus it is that the New Zealand lamb display-r-on this occasion combining both North and South Island entries—will be held, on Smithfield in mid-April; probably on the stall of Messrs W. Weddel and Co., Ltd. The judges have already been appointed by the Imported Meat Trade Association; the display, in the usual competition style now well established will be sponsored by the New, Zealand Meat Producers’ Board.

. Shipping companies here are- anxious to restore the former chilled beef

trade with the Dominions, and xpany pew ideas are abroad for the development, of this along lines advantageous to the producers. It is believed in some quarters that the provision of small, indepenaent lockers in the refrigerated holds of the cargo liners would suit the chilled beef trade from the Southern Hemisphere. This, it is held, would allow the opening up of the holds and loading at successive ports, with the least interference and with the steady temperatures necessary for keeping this business on a competitive basis with the Argentine. Although the recent strike among workers at' the docks and markets interfered with the even flow of New Zealand produce into consumption, some important landings have lately taken place and are expected, in the course of the next few days. Of butter cargoes, fairly heavy cdhsignrnertts are due in the Hororata (2,000.000 boxes) on January 28; in the Port Hobart (110,000 boxes) on February|& l and in the Sydney Star (99,855 boxes). The Port Hobart will also bring 33,232 crates of cheese; Large meat cargoes, consisting mainly of lamb and mutton, will be put ashore from the Port Alnia (3697 tons), due on January’ 26, and from the Pakeha (3322 tons) on January 31.