FALLING EXPORT RETURNS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 49, 26 February 1921, Page 4

FALLING EXPORT RETURNS

Farmers engaged in stock-raising are entering oni an anxious time in the present state of the frozen meat market. Perusal of an article on N the subjact published in 1 this issue will show that the monetary returns to the Dominion by way of meat exports are likely to be substantially reduced this year. In 'this district alone, including Southern Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, and Manawatu, prices for lamb for export have fallen l£d per gpund, of mutton l^d, and beef is down by 10s per 1001b. Some reasons for this fall are i given in the article already referred to. AVhat concerns the community as a whole—for the position must indirectly affect everybody, sooner or later—is that both wool and frozen meat are very\much lower in price, and that will mean a greatly reduced income from sales in markets overseas, a shortage of some millions of pounds. True, the returns from dairy produce will be greater than those of last year, but they will hardly compensate for the deficiency on account of wool and meat, the predominant exports of th^s 'Dominion. The cheep and cattle farmers of New Zealand appear to be now entering upon their lean years. It is to be devoutlj hoped that these, will not go the full seven, for the cities and towns can hardly look frfr total immunity from such great restrictive effects on businessas seem likely,.