MARKET FOR LAMB

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28987, 31 August 1959, Page 15

MARKET FOR LAMB

British Minister’s

Views

The United Kingdom could absorb a limited quantity of extra lamb, but if New Zealand continued to increase its sheep flocks at the present rate marketing of the additional lamb would be a problem, said the British Minister of Agriculture (Mr John Hare) in Christchurch yesterday. “You are of course sending us record numbers of lamb,” said the Minister. “I think it is reckoned that we are receiving a record this year, and that these numbers are about 60 per cent, up on pre-war. This market has. I think, to be watched.

“As long as you keep up quality—you have a fine name for lamb at Home—and you use the best sales techniques, you may be able to maintain and slightly increase your market

“At Home our standard of living is going up, and as that continues people will eat more meat dairy produce and goodquality fruit and vegetables. “However, if you go on increasing your sheep flocks at present rates the marketing of these lambs will be a problem.” Asked about reports that New Zealand lamb, though selling cheaply at Smithfield, was still priced relatively highly in retail =hops. Mr Hare said he had looked into this matter shortly before he came to New Zealand. “Most of the big multiple stores have been cutting their prices "and advertising the fact Others in the retail trade will be following suit” said the Minister. “Up To You”

“I have always said that we could accept more high-quality chilled beef, but as you know we have a free economy for food--stufli ond it i&up ta yoQ- to meet market requirements—it really has nothing to do with the Government” said Mr Hare when he was asked whether he concurred with a prediction made by the Economic Service of the Meat and Wool Boards that there should be scope for more New Zealand and Australian beef as well as Home supplies in the United Kingdom. The Economic Service’s latest review of the sheep industry notes that in 1958. for the second successive year, the Argentine was the largest supplier of imported meat to the United Kingdom, but it asks whether this flow of Argentine meat can be maintained. “Our guess would be ‘no.’ as far as the next few years are concerned, at any rate,” says the service. “The main justification for this view is the sharp fall in Argentine cattle numbers in conjunction with the high level of domestic consumption. Cattle stocks havt fallen from 46.94 m head in 1956 to 38.2 m in 1959 on the basis of estimates by the ‘River Plate Review’.”