LAMB AND MUTTON

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 149, 27 June 1938, Page 14

LAMB AND MUTTON

HOME-GROWN PRICES REPLY TO FARMERS FALL NOT DUE TO IMPORTS (From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, May 25. The continued dissatisfaction of sheep farmers throughout Great Britain, caused by the fall in the prices of home-killed mutton and lamb, has given rise to a general misunderstanding that imports of lamb have increased in the first four months of this year, compared with the two previous years. Consequently, there has been an agitation for the restriction of imports from New Zealand and Australia.

This misunderstanding was corrected by Mr. W. Morrison, Minister of Agriculture, when he answered a question in the House of Commons this week.

"Imports of frozen lamb in the first four months of this year have been somewhat less than in the corresponding period, of 1937," he said. "Although there has been some increase in oversea supplies of mutton, the excess has largely consisted of lower grade ewe mutton. Stocks of mutton and lamb in cold storage in Great Britain are substantially below the levels of a year ago." The English farmer's dissatisfaction has been encouraged largely by the comparison of this season's prices with those of last, which were exceptionally high, and a certain annoyance at the successful results of the New Zealand advertising campaign. It is understood that, in some quarters, there is a strong agitation to ask the British Government to subsidise mutton and lamb, and to control imports. POSITION DISCUSSED. Mr, R. S. Forsyth, British representative of the New Zealand Meat Board, and Dr. R. M. Campbell, economic adviser to the High Commissioner, together with representatives of Australia, met officials of the Ministry of Agriculture last week to discuss the position of Dominion imports. Supplies, prices, and markets were thoroughly examined, and the New Zealand representatives emphasised the fallacy of attributing the fall in the price of home-killed mutton to increased Dominion imports. In addition to referring to the fall this year in lamb imports, and the slight rise in the quantity of ewe mutton, they also pointed out that stocks of lamb in store in the United Kingdom were 380,000 carcasses less than in May, 1937, and that New Zealand lamb was selling at a penny per lb more than a year ago. English farmers are experiencing a feed shortage in certain districts—the rainfall in the first four months of this year amounted to only 3.35 i livestock figures disclose that their flocks are larger. This is a factor which causes the outlook for New Zealand lamb on the British market in 1939 to remain uncertain. Indications are that Great Britain will request the Dominions not to increase their exports nexl/ year. IN EVENT OF WAR. Reports have appeared in the English newspapers recently stating that reserve meat supplies are being bought for the nation to store against the possibility of war, and that they will consist of home and not imported meat. This suggestion has not been confirmed, and those with a knowledge of the English markets think it unlikely that the higher priced homekilled meat would be stored in preference to imported. A report, however, that Vesteys had arranged to buy up £3,000,000 of Dominion an (J foreign meat, to be landed at different ports throughout the United Kingdom for storage was denied. It would appear that these rumours have occurred as a result of a report issued by the War Plans Association. This stated that their intention, and so far as could be learned, the intention of the British Government, was not to lay in heavy stocks of meat for storage in case of war. It was more likely that, on the first day of hostilities, a rationing scheme would be brought into force immediately, and the present ration of meat available to the public would be reduced by 50 per cent. As Britain produces 50 per cent, of the meat at present consumed by its population, it is considered that this would be sufficient for immediate requirements, while imported meat would be used to feed the fighting services and to supplement any civilian deficiencies.