ESTIMATES OF PRODUCTION

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25547, 15 July 1948, Page 4

ESTIMATES OF PRODUCTION

ONLY SMALL OVERALL INCREASE DECLINE IN KILLING OF MEAT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 14. Primary production for the 1947-48 season is expected to show only a slight overall increase compared with the previous year, according to statistics available from the organisations concerned. Contrary to expectations, meat production for this season will be lower. The latest figures from the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board show an overall decrease to date of about 156,000 tons. Although lamb killings

have already set a new record at about 500,000 tons, mutton tonnage has declined to 2,600,000 tons, compared with 2 900,000 tons for the corresponding period of last year. Beef production has fallen from. 887,000 tons last sqpson to 846,000 tons. The abrupt reversal of earlier predictions and production estimates is considered the result of an abnormal season. The autumn drought resulted in a far greater number of killings for the time of the year, and a consequent falling off during the later part of the season. , Earlier estimates by the Dairy Board of a 3 per cent, production increase have now been amended to about 21 to 21 per cent. The tonnage of butter, both creamery and whey, made by dairy factories is expected by a representative of the Dairy Products Marketing Commission to be slightly higher than for the previous 12 months, and a marked improvement on the 1945-46 figures. Cheese production will probably show little variation, but if anything will have decreased.

More than 3*000,000 cases of apples and pears were picked, of which 1,000,000 were exported to Great Britain, said an official of the Marketing Department. About 1,500,000 cases had yet to be marketed in New Zealand. These figures did not take into account sales made direct from growers to consumers. The lemon crop appeared to be holding well, but as it was harvested seasonally for a limited period of the year, no definite opinion could be given yet. Vegetables such as potatoes and onions had been in good supply and met with a ready demand.