A BEFLEX OF THE MEAT TRADE.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 11

A BEFLEX OF THE MEAT TRADE.

Tho twenty-second • annual , report of the .Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company gives facts and figures that reflect Interestingly the times through which the meat trade Is passing. Tho following table shows tho killings at the company's works' at .five-yearly Intervals, together with last season's figures:— Year Endintr

The features of the returns are ths maintenance of the fat lamb trade, a decline and partial restoration of the mutton trade, and a decided dcclino in the frozen beef Industry. Compared with the 1025 season both lamb and mutton killings show satisfactory increases, the former by 4838 and the latter by 6824. The decrease in cattle by over 9000 is evidence of the decline of the cattle herds of the province. There was also a fairly substantial decrease in the numbers of pigs and calves handled during ths year, the former showing a decline of 2336 and the latter 2098.' In regard to pigs it is probable that the efforts now being made to encourage the export' of frozen pork will lead to the expansion of this department in the near future. It is very evident, states the report, that the quantities of stock which fanners might reasonably be expected to kill at their own works have not been forthcoming. It it realised that it may be found difficult to resist offers far stock which specify its diversion to works other than thost owned by farmers, but the final result of th" acceptance, of such a policy must not be overlooked. Dealing with the company's trading operations, the'*'report states that the profit for the year amounts to £8582 8s 6d, which, with £3716 19s 2d brought forward from the previous year, provides £ 12,299 7s 8d to be dealt with. The directors recommend the 'payment of a dividend of 6 per cent, oa the paid-up capital, which will absorb £11,935 and leave £304 7s 8d to be carried forward; In making this recommendation, however, they call attention to the fact that the profits for the year do not fully provide the total amount required, and U Is only after giving careful consideration to the position of the company and conditions affecting it that they feel justified in recommending the payment of a dividend this year.

30th .Tune. Lambs. 1905 ... 5,404 1910 ... 60,073 1915 ... 117,131 1920 ... 56,536 ' 1925 ... 119,404 1926 ... 115,242 Sheep. 553 8,294 95,842 98,013 16,276 23,100 • Cattle. 107 8,904 21.076 22,698 15.282 6,163