FROZEN MEAT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 260, 30 July 1929, Page 18

FROZEN MEAT TRADE

A GOOD SEASON PRODUCERS’ BOARD REVIEW In a survey of the 1928-29 season, the annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board says that although the output of meat .from the Dominion has not been as great as last year, yet from a fattening point of view the season may be considered fairly satisfactory. Climatic conditions have been very favourable throughout the year in most parts of the Dominion, with an abundance of feed, with the result that at no point were the freezing-works congested, as /was the case in the early part of the previous year, when in many districts of the North Island farmers were concerned i with the prolonged absence of rain, resulting in a rush of stock to the works in the early part of the year; whereas throughout this season the flow of fat i stock to freezing-works has been fairly regular and even. In conformity with the favourable season the following figures show that the average weight of mutton and lamb killed for export has shown an increase over the last three, years, which should be reflected in the general quality of our meat when displayed on Smithfield; —

' A. comparison of the killings for export this season, up to June 30, as between the North and South Island, i as follows, last season’s figures being shown in parentheses :— North Island, Beef (quarters) 130,079 (349,945) . Wether mutton (carcasses) 840,435 (1,009,895) Ewe mutton (carcasses) 372,591 (520,609) Lamb (carcasses) ~.. 2,685,493 (2,835,532) Pork, porkers (carcasses) 112,236 (114,573) Pork, baconers (carcasses) 42,988. (26,631) Boneless beef (freight carcasses) 119,798 (221,326) Sundries (frt. carcasses) 44,760 (35,223) South Island. Beef (quarters) 844 (1,413) Wether mutton (carCasses) .; 154,639 (94,743) Ewe mutton (carcasses) 317,944 (281,721) Lamb (carcasses) .... 3,182,481 (2,978,693) Pork, porkers (carcasses) 2,256 (3,983) Pork, baconers (carcasses) 1,821 (&>4) Boneless beef (freight carcasses) 27,619 (32,450) Sundries (frt. carcasses) 25,357 (21,420) The figures show that up to June 30 the killings of beef, mutton, and lamb were considerably reduced in the North Island as compared with the same period last year, whereas in the South Island there was a marked increase in both mutton and lamb. The killings of beef up to June 30 reveal a (.considerable drop on last year’s figures, and it is not expected that the killings for the balance of the season will show any marked improvement. The number of cattle killed in the Dominion for export in quarters during the past seven years is as follows: — Season. - ■ Head. 1922- 125,983 1923- 80,707 1924- 114,637 1925- 53,898 . 1926- 46,033 1927- 98,705 1928- (to June 30) 32,730 A Wider Market. z • The following table (quantities shown in 601 b. freight careasses) gives the destinations of meat shipped during the last three seasons commencing from November 1, and shows that new outlets for our meat are steadily being found. “It has always, been the Board’s policy to "endeavour to widen the channels of distribution,’’ states the report, “and special provision is contained in the. freight agreement arranged by the Board with the shipping companies to provide vessels for other than main ports in the United Kingdom, arid elsewhere. The way to further improve the present position, however, is for traders at these ports to make regular purchases c.i.f., if necessary pooling their requirements to ensure sufficient quantities for regular shipments”:— i Season

The following shows the various classes of meat shipped to the different destinations so far during the current season, nine months to June 30, 1929-—

T °tal3 111,554 1,258,705 4,746,041 carcasses of’ pork were shipped, 77,422 to London and 59,406 to the West Coast of the United Kingdom. 90,468 bags of boneless beef were sent away, including 44.686 to New York' and 3-2-407 to the West Coast o£ the United Kingdom. The figures demonstrate the growing popularity of lamb, the totals for which for the last two years represent a record advance over any previous year. A Great Industry. The value of the Dominion’s sheep and cattle industry, as measured by the export statistics (f.o.b. values) for the twelve months ended March 31, 1929, is as follows:— Frozen meats 10,509,650 Wool 15,576,201 Hides and skins 3,111 inn Other by-products (tallow, etc.) 1,613,032 I £30,810,142 In respect of the wool sold in the Dominion, the following are the average prices worked out over the whole Dominion in respect of the NovemberMarch roster of sales for the last three seasons:—

Reputation to Maintain. Considerable space is deyoted in the report to a review of the Board’s advertising and publicity campaign to further the growing popularity of New Zealand lamb, attract new customers, and open up new channels of distribution. Due credit is given to the work of the Empire Marketing Board. On two occasions during, the year the Board secured convictions against retailers for selling other imported meat as New Zealand. The Board has also taken further steps by advertisement, circular letter to over three hundred butchers’ associations in the United Kingdom, etc., to do everything possible to stop this practice, and it has been supported by the trade at Home in this matter. The Board has been making inquiries in regard to the market for animal-glands for the’ manufacture of various medical preparations, and it recently made arrangements for a small trial shipment of various kinds of glands from both sheep and cattle to be sent forward. When the report on this shipment comes to hand

it will be circulated to freezing-compan-ies and others interested. The report of the Medical Officer of Health for the City of London shows that New Zealand has a tine record on Smithfield from a veterinary point of view, indicating the healthy condition of the Dominion’s herds and flocks, and reflecting credit on the rigid system of veterinary inspection adopted by the Department of Agriculture. New Zealand’s record is much better than ther exporting countries who ship meat to the United Kingdom, which is a most valuable asset, and shows how important it is that farmers should adopt every safeguard to keep their flocks and herds clean from contamination from outside infected sources.

1925-26 ... Wethers. lb. 54.6 Ewes, lb. 54.1 Lambs, lb. 34.3 1926-27 ... ..... 55.9 54.5 34.8 1927-28 ... 56.4 54.7 34.5 1028-29 (to 30 ... June 58.2 55.4 34.9

1928-29. 1926-27. 1927-28. (estlSeason. Season, mated). London 4,753.717 5,132,804 4,594,102 Southampton . . 43,405 97,288 169.765 W. Coast U.K. 1,067,468 1,199,504 1,032,435 Hull > —— 3,270 Havre . 29,395 __ Antwerp . 42,990 29,249 Marseilles 20,248 - - Genoa . . 19,755 —-- - — Port Said ;..., . 14,493 9.851 Halifax 1,804 2,812 22,983 Montreal . —- 27,303 10,710 ancouver .,.. . 3,455 18,712 7,800 New York .... .. 14,484 440,818 381,071 Boston . 1 — 3,996 17,596 Cristobal ... —— 13,334 12,313 San Francisco . 1,225

Beef, Mutton, Lamb, c/cs. qrs. c/cs. London 30 R39 Southampton ... ' 50,556 180,924 West Coast U.K. Halifax 12,388 6 766 121,100 734.092 Montreal <820 1,000 New York 47,436 13 S3° Vancouver .... 3,800 504 Cristobal 3,924 Boston 1,065 250 760 San Francisco .. 530 140

Average Average Price Price per lb. per bale. 1826-27 .... d. £ s. d. 12 G6 18 3 1 24 5 0 21 10 11 1227-28 .... , IB 89 15.00