MEAT PROSPECTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 286, 30 August 1935, Page 22

MEAT PROSPECTS

British Taste Alters

DOMINION LAMB AND MUTTON FAVOURED

Review by Chairman of Producers’ Board

‘•lt is most pleasing to see the marked improvement in the trade conditions in the United Kingdom. Despite the fact that the population has increased and there is still great unemployment, there are to-day more people in work than Jias ever been the case in the United Kingdom. It is also satisfactory to note that the quality of our meat, particularly lamb, is being maintained. This is strikingly illustrated by the premium we are obtaining over our competitors. The channels of distribution of our iamb are greatly extending, again showing that'tnir customers must be satisfied with its quality.” So declared Mr.’ T. A. Duncan, chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, at the annual meeting of delegates held, ip Wellington yesterday to consider the 13th annual report and elect three producers’ representatives on the board. He reviewed at length all the circumstances of the Ottawa Agreement and the White Paper leading up to the recent meat discussions in London, showing how the United Kingdom market had been leaded increasingly with meat produced at Home and abroad and what might be expected in the future.

1,300,000 Lambs Eaten in Four Weeks.

The taste of the British consumers was being altered in favour of New Zealand’s meats and particularly mutton and lamb. In 1914 under six million lambs from all sources had been imported. This year it was estimated that IS million lambs would be landed from all sources. During the last four weeks he was in Britain 1.900.000 carcases of imported lamb were consumed. Large and increasing quantities of lamb were being eaten every month of the year, which used not to be the case. “Our meat policy laid down at .Ottawa has served New Zealand well, and unless we have a continuance of the quota system, or what I prefer to call quantitative regulation, we cannot hope for stable or remunerative prices.” said the chairman. * “In this connection it was very gratifying to me to bear on all sides praise for the work of. the Meat Board. It has been our aim tef regulate supplies to the United Kingdom market, and it was pleasing to learn that our policy has earned the commendation of both tlie'United Kingdom-Government and the English meat trade. Their wish, was that other'countries would follow our lead, not only in regulating shipments, but also in maintaining a high standard of quality. , - . • ’ ■ - ~ “We Know Where We Stand.” “It must be most gratifying to our producers to find that as far as mutton and lamb are concerned a satisfactory plan of supply regulation has been adopted up to the end of 1936. In'other words, we know where we stand for th? next,lB months. For the six months to the end of 1935, the quantity of rntittoii and lamb allotted to New Zealand amount's to 1,578,000ewt. For the year 193 G New Zealand has been allotted 3,90(),000cwt. In addition to this figure an arrangement has been made that if we are short in the second half-year, of 1935 we may add the deficiency up to 50,000 cwt. to the 1936 r total.'/ ' This quantity represents an increase- of 300.000 cwt.. which is equal to an extra million lambs over the quantity killed last year. “As far as beef is concerned, quotas kave been agreed upon to the end of 1935. The long term policy has not yet been formulated, but New. Zealand kas reached an agreement on most of the points with the United Kingdom, and it now remains to be seen how far the other Governments . which have been parties to.the discussion will also find the draft agreement' acceptable. Owing to the fact that the. negotiations are yet incomplete, it is impossible to make disclosures at this stage."' Pork Situation. ‘The pork situation also came up for discussion, and I am .sure that the quota of 12,500 tons for baconers which was arranged some time ago will prove to be sufficient for dur requirements for arrival in 1935. For the half-year July-December, 1935, we have now been given a quota for porker pigs amounting to 140.300 cwt. This figure may be just about enough for our requirements—a good deal depends on our production this spring and the state of the market.

“At the present moment the question of pork importation is being examined by the United Kingdom Government, and it is difficult to foretell what future quantities will be allowed to be shipped from t'his Dominion. It is clear, however, that we shall have to recognise that the outlook is more favourable for the expansion in our bacon--ers than for porkers, and that we may. have eventually to adjust our farming activities accordingly.

“The great bulk of the porker trade’ is in the hands of the British farmers, who have increased their pigs in the last three years to the extent of 700.000 head, and naturally they are looking for a large share of their own market. In 1934 the pig population of Great Britain and Northern Ireland amounted to 3,900.000 head. Some time ago the British Government made considerable curtailment in supplies of foreign porkers which has enabled us to ' maintain our supplies of porkers on the British market. »

“It is particularly satisfactory to have obtained an exemption from a levy on our mutton and lamb and at the same time been given a satisfactory allocation of quantity up to the end of 1936. Up to now we have been working on quarterly quotas for the various classes of meat, and it may be appreciated the difficulties and worries these short- period terms have entailed. ■ Advertising Expenditure. Expenditure of a further £5OOO , in the United Kingdom in bringing .New Zealand brands of meat before the public was desirable, said the chairman in answer to a suggestion of Mr. E. Hay. That was the chairman’s own view, but he would place it before the board at the first meeting. He would not be in favour of the levy being raised for the purpose, however. Asked bow chilled beef prices came to be below those for frozen beef, the chairman said the weather was so hot at one stage, so exceptional that the butchers did not want beef and there was no demand for it. There was need for strict regulation of shipments. The tendency had been for chilled prices to

be lower in one or two instances during July and August, but for months prior to that chilled beef prices were better than those for frozen beef. Mr. J. D. Revie congratulated the board on the continuation of the good work, and the valuable work of the chairman and Mr. Fraser, the general manager, in England, in assisting Mr. Forbes and Mr -Coates. The country would have felt more secure if the term had been of longer‘duration, but in the circumstances, the producers had every reason to feel satisfied. Mr. J. Trotter said the work of the lute chairman. Mr. David Jones, should be recognised in conjunction with that of the chairman and Mr. Fraser. That view was endorsed by acclamation,