Meat Producers’ Board

Evening Star, Issue 19310, 24 July 1926, Page 3

Meat Producers’ Board

The Annual Report

The following are the more important clauses in the fourth annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers Board;—

The excess of income over expenditure for the twelve months amounted to £7,867. The investm ts now total £46,500, the accumulated fund standing at £31,781. . The action of the hoard in reducing the size of the various electoral districts has- resulted in a slightly greater proportion of. the electors recording their votes. The board considers that a still greater interest should bo taken in this matter, and that each sheepfarmer will recognise that it is incumbent upon him to record his vote for the delegate whom ho considers best fitted to represent his district at the annual meeting. It is pleasing to record that the number of sheep in the dominion as at April 30, 1925 (24,547,055), showed an increase of 772,179 over the previous year. It is gratifying to record that the number of breeding ewes also showed a further increase, the 1925 total being 639,129 over the previous year. The following statement sets out full particulars of the lambing in the dominion for each vear, commencing with 1920

The number of pigs in the dominion is 440,115. It is hoped that tlip_ steps being taken to develop the pork industry will soon be reflected in huge mcienses in tho foregoing figures. The number of cattle is 3.503,744. SURVEY OF THE SEASON. The season under review, from a fattening point of view, has certainly not been so favorable as the preceding one, as is shown by the amount-, of meat shipped and the average weight of stock treated. The continual dry weather along the east coast of the North Island had a very marked effect on the quality and quantity of stock sent along to the freezing works. Our exports of beef suffered particularly from this drought, as is shown by the small amount exported. Tho quantity of beef shipped was the smallest for many years; through shortage of feed farmers in the drought-affected areas were obliged to kill not only cattle of both sexes, but also a largo number of calves; a big percentage of these wore too emaciated for export, with the result that, as tho east coast supplies a great portion of our export beef, it will mean that very little cattle will be available for export from this district during the coming season. The climatic conditions in, the other districts were fairly normal. The totals treated for shipment to Great Britain and the Continent this season, also in the three previous years, commencing November 1, are as follow: —■ Season. Total freight carcases. 1922- 5,765,708 1923- 5,705,608 1924- 6,438,056' 1925- (to 30/6/26) 5,501,607 The average weight of sheep and lambs treated this season, and tho two preceding seasons, is as follows: —

The meat shipped to the Continental ports consists of beef and calves. Owing Eo the enormous quantities of Argentine beef shipped to England, tho British market prices have not been favorable for our beef. The board has specially endeavored to help shippers to market their beef on the Continent, and the shipping companies have on all occasions met the board’s wishes in this respect by providing the necessary tonnage for the various Continental ports, (ionsidering the many adverse conditions with which the trade has had to contend this season, the returns for stock killed for export, although considerably below the previous season, rnay bo considered fairly satisfactory, having regnrd to the general fa-11 in the standard of values of almost all commodities. When making a comparison >f prices offered for stock this season as compared with the previous sea-sou, we must remember that last year s prices were much above the average ol previous years, and subseqently proved to be above London parities, as evidenced by losses made by most operators. Last year seems to have been a good fattening season in Great Britain, and a greater quantity of home-killed meat came on the market, particularly at the latter end, causing an accumulation of supplies At one period buyers were able to purchase quantities of homekilled lamb at prices which were practically on the same level as Now Zealand “lamb. Besides heavy supplies of British home-killed meat, it is interesting to note the supplies of Latvian frozen lambs, also shipments of lambs from Iceland and Southern Russia that came on the British market last wear, also supplies of Manchurian mutton. Although tho aggregate of _ all these shipments from these countries was not large, and. the quality in mast cases very poor, still they went into consumption and took a proportion of the trade. The shipment of lambs from the Commonwealth this season was considerably in excess of the two previous seasons. Australian lambs usually commence to go forward about October; and the greater quantify is off the market before our main shipments commence to arrive. Unfortunately, this year the shipping strike delayed their shipment, with the result tllac considerable supplies of Australian lambs were on the market when our main shipments commenced to arrive. The shipping strike also upset the shipment of the_ balance of our last season’s kill, which resulted in large quantities or old season’s meat being still 'on the market when our new season’s kill arrived on Smithfield. But, apart from the above factors, which have had an appreciable effect in the marketing of our produce, the decided drop in values of pelts and wool was reflecled in the prices offered by operators at this end._ As showing the marked difference in values of wool and pelts as between this season and last, this season the average value of sliped lambswool would be approximately Is Sd per lb' f.0.b., whereas last year at the commencement of the season this same class of wool was worth 2s f.o.b. Good lamb pelts this season are worth about 2s 3d f.o.b.;.last season up to 3s 9d f.o.b. was paid. The drop in values or wool and pelts affected the prices

Dominion’s Position Reviewed

offered for lambs to the extent of approximated lid per lb. As a result of the fight between the South American shippers which has been going on for some time, more beef has been available on the Homo market than it could absorb, with the result' that beef prices have dropped considerably and much money has been lost by shippers, inis fight cannot go on indefinitely, but in the meantime, the unpayable cheap prices of chilled beef are having a marked effect on our mutton trade, particularly ewes. The present labor crisis in Great Britain is, no doubt, also affecting the consumption of meat generally. This trouble, however, is only transient, and once an agreement is reached in the coal miners’ dispute British trade should soon regain its normal condition, with, a better demand for moat than at present. GRADING AND HANDLING OF , MEAT. Owing to adverse climatic conditions in many districts the job of the board’s supervising graders lias been made move difficult this season than in a normal year, particularly after such an exceptionally good season as the previous one. The exceptionally dry weather experienced on the east coast of the North Island practically throughout the season has resulted in a greater quantity of second-class meat being sent along to the freezing works. It is pleasing to note that the work of the supervising graders is now being fully appreciated by the moat trade in the United Kingdom, it being very rare to receive complaints for faulty grading. The board’s aim is to inspire confidence in buyers of our meat so that they can purchase with the fullest assurance that each parcel will be up to the grade as specified. The result of the board’s efforts in this direction is that our grading standard is generally accepted- at the other end. This fact was specially stressed in the report of the Imperial Economic Committee — when comparing our standard of grading with other parts of the Empire—wherein it states that purchasers are ready to buy parcels of New Zealand mutton and lamb merely on grade specified. The establishment of this confidence in onr grading has created a valuable asset to this dominion. Uniformity in grading is essential for the marketing of any commodity, and in the selling of our primary products the standard must be fixed according to the requirements of our buyers. 111 fixing a standard of quality and arranging a range of grade weights the desires of Smithficld have been the pattern on which the board has worked. It has recently been suggested to the board by some farmers that an alteration should bo made in the grade weight of lambs, in the direction of extending tjio range of weight, _ so' as to allow heavier lambs to bo included. Any alteration along these lines would not be in accordance with the requirements of the Home trade. Producers must recognise that the requirements of onr customers must bo our first consideration.

The Down-cross lambs are becoming more established in the North Island, and it is pleasing to note that the South Island breeders are now generally becoming interested in Southdown rams. To show how the British market appreciates onr Down-cross lamb an extract from the report of the Imperial Economic Committee on tho marketing and preparing for market of foodstuffs produced in tho overseas parts i of the Empire reads as follows: —“ New Zealand produces the finest qualities of lamb, and undoubtedly satisfies all the requirements of the British market from this standpoint. The breed and type of sheep play a most important part in this success; the supremacy of the smaller Down breeds for mutton and lamb production is recognised. In this respect New Zealand Is well equipped, ns her Hocks are almost entirely of tho cross-bred typo. This is an important factor in making possible an almost standardised product for export. Moreover, the grading of New Zealand carcasses as to typo, weight, and finish furnishes an outstanding example in the matter of uniformity.” The close attention which the board’s inspectors have been giving to the handling of our meat in transit is now bearing fruit, as is shown in the condition of our meat on arrival in the United Kingdom. There has been a gradual improvement in the handling of our meat ever since these inspectors were appointed. To what extent is shown in a recent report received from the board’s London manager, in which he says, in describing the condition of the meat in some recent arrivals: “ Generally speaking, the meat was leaving tho slings in practically tho same condition as when it was loaded in New Zealand.”

Whilst claiming that the presence of these inspectors has resulted in bringing the handling of our meat to this satisfactory condition, credit is alsjo due to the snipping companies, railway authorities, and others responsible, who have associated themselves with tho board in carrying out these reforms. Tho board's inspector in the United Kingdom is also doing good work in superintending the discharge of our meat, and has instituted many changes in the manner in which our meat was being handled. There is no doubt that the outcome of his supervision of the west coast ports of tho United Kingdom during the last two years has resulted in a vast improvement in tho discharge of New Zealand meat there. The board’s London manager has been giving considerable attention to the handling of our meat in tho barges on the Thames. On various occasions the board has pointed out to farmers and others the importance of the careful handling of live stock whilst in transit to freezing works, and through the courtesy of the railway authorities it has had posters permanently displayed at all trucking stations giving warning of the damage that occurs to stock through careless handling. As a result of a recent visit to different freezing works, the general manager has reported to the board that there is still a_ great economic waste taking place owing to the bruised condition of stock arriving at the freezing works. Many farmers are often concerned at the large percentage of second-class lambs as returned by the freezing companies, and are not aware that a great many of these second-class lambs are placed in the second grade owing to bruises. A certain amount of this bruising occurs in railway trucks, but, nevertheless, a great deal takes place before the lambs are railed and during trucking. In analysing the nature of these bruises there appears to bo a lot of it caused through wool pulls —that is, catching hold of the animal by the wool. It is essential that farmers should see that every care is given to the handling of their stock •whilst on route to freezing works. The monetary _ Iqss which occurs through bruising is very considerable, besides being detrimental to the appearance of

our lambs when displayed on SmitHfield. 1 At the instigation of the board the Railway Department is making experiments with a refrigerated railway wagon having a double roof, allowing a current of air between each rcibf.' If this experiment should prove a success jt will bo of great help in the carriage of frozen moat from inland works. , REGULATION OF SHIPMENTS. To keep a steady flow of meat going forward to' the British market over the twelve months of the year has been the aim of the board in its work of regulating shipments. The seamen’s strike, which occurred at the latter end of last year, upset the board’s arrangements considerably, particularly in respect to the shipment of the balance of that season’s kill, with the result that quantities of last year’s meat wero still in store in the dominion at tho commencement of the now season. A more serious effect of the strike was the holding up of the Australian supply of lambs, the quantity of which was considerably above the average supply. As the shipments of this largo quantity of Australian lambs were considerably delayed, and as there wero already ample stocks of our meat in store in London to meet the requirements of the market the board bad to readjust its shipping arrangements in the early part of the year, thereby avoiding a glut of moat on the Homo market. As the board makes its shipping arrangements each year, to fit in with the killing months, also the requirements of the Horae markets, these arrangements must be made months ahead so as to give shipping companies ample time to provide the necessary tonnage; so it will bo seen how serious is any interruption in the way of a strike on the regulation ensuring continuity of supplies from this dominion. The advantage of having a continual supply of moat going on to tho British market lias now been fully recognised by the meat trade, and its effect in helping to stabilise the market is reflected back to tho dominion in more uniform prices being offered by buyers. In tho report of tho Imperial Economic Committee on_ the marketing of foodstuffs produced in the overseas parts of the Empire, when referring to the regularity and continuity of meat supplies, it "says: “Regularity and continuity of supply are most important factors in tho attainment of success in tho British market, and wo cannot too strongly impress on the producer the advantage ho will derive from close attention to these points.” ' Referring particularly to Now Zealand supplies, the same report goes on to say: “A feature of the New Zealand meat trade is tho regularity and continuity of supply. This has been rendered possible "by the organisation of tho producers under the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. The main function of this board, as it at present operates, is to regulate supplies from New Zealand to British ports in such a way as to prevent temporary gluts and shortages. and this object it achieves by negotiating with tho shipping interests in respect to freight rates and the allotment of space. Tho board has been the subject of criticism, but in view of tho favorable finding on this subject by the Royal Commission on Food Prices we have not felt it incumbent upon ns to go into the matter further in this report.” The greater demand for our lambs on the British market commences after Easter. Like all other markets, tho British meat trade can absorb a certain amount of lamb in the off season, and early shipments of new season’s lamb often realise good prices; but shippers and producers must recognise that tho requirements of tho Homo trade must ho carefully studied, and an oyersupply of lambs before tho lamb-eating season commences in Britain should bo avoided. In observing the requirements of the Home market in this_ respect producers must also take into account the most economical time for tho farming of tho early lambs, having regard to the period when there is a greater abundance of feed. EXPORT OF PORK. No branch of primary production in New Zealand provides such scope for expansion as pig-raising. It is generally recognised that there is an everincreasing demand for imported pork in Great Britain, as is evidenced by the fact that last year there were 628,297 tons of bacon, bams, pork, and lard imported into the United Kingdom from all sources, and valued at £66,588,566, made up as follows: Bacon £42,239,817 Hams 8,543,466 Pork (fresh) 5,122,123 Fork (frozen) 1,021,585 Pork (salted) 104,497 Lard 9,557,078 Total £66,588,566 Of this quantity, New Zealand contributed 1,901 tons, valued at £134,913. This year, wo shall probably show a slight increase in onr shipments, as lip to Juno 30 wo have killed 49,894 pigs for export, which is equal to 94,509 601 b freight carcasses—an increase over tho same period of last year of 14,155 pigs, or 18,753 freight carcasses. A comparison of shipments of pork to Great Britain, together with values of same for the last five years ended September 30, is as follows; Year. Cwt. 1992 12,453 £34,(59 1923 32,284 95,478 1924 6,047 15,637 1925 38,028 134,913 1926 (to May 31) ... 31,048 121,073 It will be seen from these figures that wo are increasing our export of pork, but not to the same extent as we should do, with all tho many advantages which we have over other countries who export pork to Great Britain, particularly m respect to climate and other natural resources. To bring under the notice of the bacon curers of Great Britain tho good quality, of this dominion’s pork the board recently distributed gratis a number of bacon pigs among the leading bacon curers. The general opinion expressed was very favorable, and as a result a greater inquiry has been made for our pigs, and the development of our export of pork will be further expanded once we are able to send forward regular supplies. At the present time, however, it is much to bo regretted that would-be purchasers are often unable to obtain quotations owing to the small supplies which are available. In the development of our export of pork suitable for curing wo must always keep in mind uniformity. In the bacon trade, like other branches of tho meat business, uniformity in production has grown out of standardisation in selling. There should be only one good pig, and we must concentrate on tli.e breeding of this particular pig in conformity with the desires of the buyers. Too many breeds, after all, only eocentuate differences instead of creating uniformity. In order to stimulate the exportation of pork the board has since its inception in 1922 endeavored to reduce the costs in the way of railway charges, shipping freights, etc., and as a result of its efforts in this direction these reductions in costs, calculated on a 1201 b pig, amount to 12s 8d per head, which has materially helped in increasing our export of pork. The board has now decided to conduct experiments in the farming of pigs on a suitable _ farm possessing all the necessary facilities. These experiments will extend over a considerable period, and the fullest investigation will be made. As a result valuable data should bo available for the farmers of this dominion. In these experiments particular attention will bo given to foods that can be used in con-

junction with the by-products of our dairying industry. Although feeding and breeding are of the utmost import-, ance, the basic foundation of a successfur export trade must be in a correct knowledge of farm management of p'g s - Farmers should be educated in a practical manner as to the most economical way in which sows can be kept and young pigs raised. At present we have only 440,115 pigs in this dominion, and if we are to 'build up an export trade farmers must raise more pigs. Denmark and the Netherlands exported last year over £26,000,000 worth of bacon and pork, so if to-day we exported all the pigs we have at present in the dominion this would only amount to less than one-tenth of what Denmark and the Netherlands export each To encourage the export of pork most suitable for the Horae trade the board has decided to offer prizes m the pig classes at the Royal shows. Details will be announced later on. When, t railway tariffs were altered m_July o last year the board was successful in securing a lower rate on live pigs to the extent of 1\ per cent, as compared with other live stock. LONDON OFFICE. The Merchandise Marks Act which has recently been introduced by the British Government, was supposed to carry i/nto effect the recommendations contained in the _ first report of the Imperial Economic Committee. in that report it was recommended that all food supplies should bo marked by ;the retailer when exposed for sale us either “foreign” or “Empire produce, and in the case of the latter the country of origin was also to be stated. It is to bo regretted that this Bill, as it at present appears, does not contil! n the machinery to bring this into effect, but gives the retailer the old loll of marking it either “foreign” or “Empire ” produce, or merely stating the country of origin. This is a matter that has been brought before the Ji/ionomic Committee by the board’s London manager, who is hopeful that the committee will make strong representations to the Board of_ Trade to amend the Act and bring it into lino with the recommendations of the Imperial Economic Committee. It is of the utmost importance that the consumer a t Homo should he able to distinguish onr meat when offered for sale. The whole difficulty in the past has been that the consumer was unable to recognise the origin of the meat, but this to a great measure will ho removed if the recommendations of the Imperial Economic Committee are carried into effect. The attention of the board’s London manager bias on several occasions been drawn to cases whereby meat from other countries has been wrongfully retailed as “ New Zealand,” but as under the present law it is necessary th'at an invoice or description of the meat be obtained in writing, it shows how difficult it is to obtain a conviction. If the proposals of the Imperial Economic Committee are carried out in framing the Merchandise Marks Act, it will throw the responsibility on every retailer to clearly mark his goods with the country of origin. In the matter of War Office contracts and all public meat contracts, the board’s London office is continually pressing on the authorities the importance of preference to overseas parts of the Empire. Some time *ago in calling for tenders for the supply of beef for Army purposes, the War Office amended the conditions of their contract form by asking for quotations for “British dominions and/or South American alt the contractors’ option.” The effect of this alteration was to absolutely cancel any preference to the British, dominions, and (the Meat Board's London manager made a strong protest against the change. _ It is pleasing to note from the conditions of contracts since received by mfail from London that the War Office has reverted to the previous custom of .asking for quotations only for British dominion meat and South American. Evidently the protest made by the hoard’s Loudon manager had the desired effect. -

The boarcT’k London manager has kept constantly in view the development of our Continental trade, and it is pleasing to note that it is now extending. The London manager has recently been corresponding with the authorities concerned in respect to the Italian army meat contracts with a view to seeing if New Zealand meat oould not bo included in these contracts. The conditions at the time required that the meat must be of Brazilian or Argentine origin. It is pleasing now to announce that the last contract for the Italian arniy has amended the original conditions and now allows our New Zealand beef to be included in any army meat contract for the future.

Tho hoard’s London manager has -dosely associated himself with the present Empire movement, and has got into touch with the different public institutions, etc., in England with the object of securing preference for our products, with the result that many inquiries) have been received with a view to dealing in our meat. Tit is particularly pleasing to note tho vast improvement that has now taken place—nott.hmly in London, but at all the West of England ports and Glasgow—in the manner in which our meat is now heinlg unloaded from tho steamers, which is quite a contrast to the manner in which it was handled before the hoard 'appointed an inspector to watch the unloading at all the British ports. There is still room, however, for improvement in tho manner in which our meat is being conveyed in the barges on the Thames, to which our board’s London manager has recently been giving a lot of attention, and,_ with the co-operation which ho is receiving from the barge owners, he is hopeful of instituting improvements. The board is keeping closely in touch with the Cambridge (England) experimental station in respeet to experiments being carried out with the object of endeavoring to improve our present system of refrigeration; and also with experiments being conducted in other patrts of the world. GENERAL, Values as measured by the world’s index numbers continue _ to show a steady decline, and the position is being closely watched by the board, with a view Ito ensuring that the fall is reflected in the various costs and charges which are incurred by the meat producer of tins dominion in treadling the consumer with his produce. •The high cold storage charges in London are a big item in our costs—the rates do not compare favorably with most of the other ports in the United Kingdom. Considering the large quantity of meat that goes through the* Port of London, greater consideration should he given to shippers in the way _ of more reasonable storage and handling charges. Once again the board would like to take the opportunity of impressing on farmers the value of. treating their pastures with a top-dressing of suitable fertilisers. Outside of farmers breeding -high-class stock, there is nothing that will improve the of our mother-fed lamb so much as using suitable fertilisers. Pasture top-dressing is a long way past the experimental stage, and is fast becoming an economic - necessity. Farmers have now proved it to bo a sound investment, resulting in greater capacity • and increased revenue. Members of the board have had many striking examples, not only of an increased percentage of fat lambs, but also of the quality of the lambs, which have been running on top-dressed pastures. It is very pleasing to note that the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, in recent speeches has shown (that he fully recognises the importance^to this country of a large supply of high-grade fertilisers at the lowest possible cost, which the hoard considers cannot lie emphasised too much if we are to in-

ere as o our exports and further improve th l{oferenoo has been made in this report to supplies of lamb and mutton whiclli are now being sent along to the British market from now sources. Wo have nothing to fear from these new, sources of supply—Great Britain will , always give preference to our goods I provided wo maintain our high standard .of quality. The importance of keeping up the high. quality of our meat lias been continually brought before the producers of this dominion, and the board would again take the opportunity of appealing to ©very farmer to do his duty in this respect, and to remember that one of the greatest assets that this dominion possesses is the high reputation of her exports on the British market. It is appropriate to quote from recent remarks by Sm Fhfhp OunMo Lister, President of the .Board of Trade. In replying to criticism, he i said control hoards were natural devel op meat and sound in principle, tie ; enumerated the advantages of pooling, notably uniform' grading, improved marketing, continuity of supphos, and avoidance of speculation. He was sure that any attempt to withhold supplies without a monopoly (and there was no question of that) would be bound to defeat its own object, while a sound control board policy benefited the consui'ners and producers. David Jones, Chairman. G. C. Smith, Secretary.

Uh 0 *■3 «,£* tC.S n- C O ** u W» o s o rt a c- S £2 Year. Numb breedi ewes. 3 rt 9 wfcS.® 3*2 S •-sir P3 s

1920 .. 11,508,549 84.11 9,730,950 1921 .. 12,147,788 86.59 10,518,780 1922 .. 12,496,054 86.77 10,843,005 1923 .. 13,063,000 88.02 11,498,456 1924 .. 13,076,094 86.14 11,258,030 1925 .. 13,715,223 82.43 11,305,858

*o U-4 <4-4 S-p 2 (V 0 0) ° fcOga £0-P S5.SP5 IS s sill © 01 > 0 > q? 3 £ e £ 5

Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 1923-24 ... 55.9 55.1 34.1 1924-25 ... 57.6 57.2 35.4 1925-26 ... 54.6 54.1 34.3