CANNING OF N.Z. MEATS ADVOCATED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 120, 14 February 1941, Page 9

CANNING OF N.Z. MEATS ADVOCATED

Overcoming Problems

AUSTRALIAN POLICY STATED

I By

“H.A.S.")

In New Zealand as yet no definite policy to meet tlie restriction on meat export, necessarily imposed by the British Government, lias been evolved. Considering that Australia has had a definitely announced policy sineb January 20, almost four weeks ago, the delay occasioned here has been considerable.

There may be good reasons for such delay, as New Zealand may be in the way of obtaining a better deal than that secured by the Commonwealth. The situation of the two countries is very different, for whereas New Zealand promises to have a most bountiful season with consequently heavy meat supplies, the Australian situation was one of drought and low supplies; then, also, meat, exports mean much more to New Zealand’s farming economy than in Australia. Prohibited Exports. The Commonwealth Alinister of Commerce, after fullest consultation with the Australian Aleat Board, has given the following ruling:— “Classes of meat which will not be exported are:— All boneless bull beef. All boneless veal. All second and third quality boneless cow beef. Boneless briskets, shins and shanks. Beef and veal offals (excluding beef, livers and kidneys). Mutton and lamb offals (excluding livers and kidneys). Pork (other than bacon or carcases) aud pork offals. Lamb of first and second quality, under 231 b.; and first and second quality, over 421 b.; and third quality, over 281 b.; all piece lamb. Second quality wether mutton.” This ruling applies to all meats slaughtered as from February 1, but does not apply to meat already in store on that date. In addition, after February 28 all baconer carcases must be exported in Wiltshire sides. Australian stock market reports to baud show clearly that, there have been decreases in value for low grade fat stock, and also even on first-class stock; these being affected by loss of offals value. At the first important sale after the regulations were announced, the values for store sheep, strangely enough, were unchanged, but fat sheep declined about 1/- a head. In explaining the regulations, the chairman of the Aleat. Board said that the policy adopted was that all .sections of tlie industry must bear their fair share of the burden, and that tlie higher-priced meats should be allowed freedom of exports. Canning Versus Storage. “It is far better to have the meat exported in cans than having it. stacked in cold storage iu Australia,” lie said. “AVe must in some form keep the consumption of meat as near normal as possible to prevent accumulation of stocks.” AU the material we have to hand stresses again and again the important part that canning is to play for Australia in meeting the surplus meat problem. Australia is fortunate in that she is herself a large producer of the necessary tinplate, and almost certainly would have proportionately more developed canning facilities than are available in New Zealand.

“So pressing, however, is the need here for great expansion of canning our “surplus” .meats that every endeavour should toe made enormously to expand the output. I do not consider that it would be impossible to obtain adequate supplies of tinplate from Australia, and I do see opportunity for the working of such plant as we have on a three-shift basis—24 hours a day, six days a week.

A canning policy would serve a twofold purpose—assist our own meat position and, surely even of more importance, assist the Empire's war effort. This latter point is repeatedly stressed in the Australian comments, where the need for vast quantities of canned meats by armies in the Aliddle East is stressed.

Further vast expansion of cold storage facilities is planned for this Dominion—additional to the 60 per cent, cold store space to be shortly available, plus an estimated crisis capacity of 20 per cent, in the freezing chambers. A question as to the wisdom of this is raised by the emphasis of a leading article in an important Australian farming journal, which sums up cold storage extension thus: "There are decided limits to successful cold storage of primary-products such as meat and butter; and cold storage, however valuable, cannot solve problems by itself. For example, is it desirable in any circumstances to have a huge reserve of stale meat to be hawked about at the end of the war? In the case of butter the limits are even more obvious.”

Storage and shipping problems are of utmost urgency, and the earlier they are faced up to the better it will be for all concerned. As can be seen from the Australian experience, they will almost certainly affect the incomes of every farmer in the Dominion.