THE MEAT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 120, 15 February 1932, Page 18 (Supplement)

THE MEAT TRADE

Work of Producers’ Board IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS By Mr. David Jones, Chairman of the N.Z. Meat Producers’ Board. For the last decade the control of the frozen meat export industry has been in the hands of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, which was constituted by Act of Parliament in 1922. Five members out of the eight who constitute the board are elected by the vote of the farmers; two members are

appointed by the Government, and one represents the stock and station agents. The most important functions of the beard include the regulation of shipments, arranging freight contracts, advertising New Zealand meat at Home, the supervision of. grading and handling of 'iur meat, research and experimental work, and generally exercising supervision over the whole industry in the interests of meat producers and others engaged in this important trade. Regulation of Shipments.

Under its statutory powers, the Board, having the freight arrangements for the shipment of New Zealand meat in its hands, is able to regulate shipments so as to keep a steady flow of meat going on to the British markets over the twelve months of the year—having due regard to the months of the highest consumption of each class of meat. There can be no question that regularity and continuity of supplies are most important factors in the attainment of success on the British mar-

ket, and the authority exercised by the board over shipments in this way is probably the most valuable work it has undertaken. The advantage of having a continual supply of meat going on to the British market has now been fully recognised by the meat trade, and its effect in helping to stabilise the market is reflected back to the Dominion in more uniform prices being offered by buyers. In the ten years of the board’s existence the killings of lamb for export have risen from 4,436,816 carcases in 1921-22 season to 7,783,528 carcases In 1930-31, the figures for each year being as follow: — Season. Lamb Carcases. 1921- 4,634,816 1922- 4,698,108 1923- 4,769,583 1924- 4,750,164 1925- 5,000,590 1926- 5,381,121 1927- 5,947.197 1928- 5.971.557 1929- 6,925,859 1930- 7,783,528

With the steady increase in output, the board has been using every endeavour to enlarge the channels of distribution and it employs a travelling representative, whose duties largely consist of visiting retailers throughout tire United Kingdom with a view to specially extending the trade in New Zealand mutton and lamb. The Dominion’s annual output of lamb and mutton alone now amounts to over 10,000,000 carcases loaded at various ports for shipment to different destinations in the United Kingdom. This gives some idea of the work and responsibility entailed in arranging for the transport of this large quantity of meat, and in endeavouring to see that the arrivals are evenly spread— It has been the board’s policy ever since its inception to do everything possible to reduce the costs between producer and consumer, particularly in view of the fact that our meat lias to come into competition with increasing supplies from foreign countries who are

more favourably placed than New Zealand. In regard to shipping freight costs in particular, the reductions obtained by the board in the various freight contracts which it has negotiated since its inception now amount to £1,059,000 per season.

In order to. get New Zealand’s increasing lamb production into consumption, the board is now spending over £16,000 in advertising at Home. The Board uses the retail butcher shops for special displays of lamb and the distribution of its advertising material, which is regularly displayed by some 20,000 butchers throughout England. Most valuable background advertising is afforded by the work carried out by the Empire Marketing Board, whose fine posters are familiar sights on hundreds of hoardings throughout Great Britain.

The increasing quantities of lamb — of improving quality—which are being shipped to the United Kingdom from other parts of the world make it more

than ever imperative that New Zealand should maintain its high standard of quality in order to retain its premier position. The board is very emphatic on this point, and its officers are regularly engaged in superivising the grading of meat at the various works. The board’s supervision of all shipments, which includes transport from the freezing works to the vessels, and also handling at the docks in the United Kingdom, is responsible for a steady improvement in the condition of our meat on arrival in the United Kingdom. The board arranged with the British Food Investigation Board for the most comprehensive scientific survey which has ever been made in regard to New Zealand's frozen meat industry, covering every link in the chain of transit, from the entry of the lambs into the slaughterhouse until they are finally delivered at the retailers’ shops in the United Kingdom. In addition, the board has for some time conducted experiments at different freezing works throughout the Dominion with a view to improving the appearance of frozen meat.