MUTTON PRESERVATION

Evening Star, Issue 23354, 25 August 1939, Page 13

MUTTON PRESERVATION

GREATER DEVELOPMENT URGED [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 24. Greater development of the, meat preservation industry in New Zealand and Australia in order to reduce the quantity of frozen mutton exports was advocated by Sir William Angliss, M.L.C., of Melbourne, on his return by the Rangitane from a six months’ holiday tour of England and Europe. Until recently, Sir William was managing director of one of the largest meat concerns in Australia, as well as being associated with a dozen other subsidiary companies with which he has now severed all connection. Sir William referred to the recent negotiations to obtain permission from the British •Government to forego the quota so that all surplus mutton might be shipped from New Zealand. He said this indicated how seriously the question of extending the mutton preservation industry should be considered in New Zealand as well as in Australia. It would have the effect, lie added, of improving the price for mutton on the London market, which had been far too low to preserving interests for some months to be profitable. “ I am suggesting a way out by which those compelled to dispose of their sheep to the freezing works may be able to do so under more profitable conditions,” Sir William said. “ Some adjustments would necessarily be involved, and one of the first would have to be in connection with labour costs, which in both countries are very much in excess of those to be faced by our competitors in South America. An effort should be made to arrange with the workers’ unions covering this branch of the industry to modify the labour costs so that mutton preservation may be put on a profitable footing. If that could be done there would probably be a big increase in the demand for labour in this bx-anch of the industry. “ We are not now preserving nearly the quantity of mutton that is warranted,” Sir 'William said, “ and there is not the demand for frozen mutton, although lamb is marketed at quite a satisfactory price. “ I would also suggest,” he continued, “ that an effort should be made by the meat boards in both countries to pay a bonus on preserved mutton exports to assist the industry. The matter is one that really should receive very serious attention from the Governments, the moat boards, the meat works, and the workers’ unions.” Sir 'William added that the present preservation plants should cope with much greater orders than were required at present, and if satisfactory arrangements were made no extensions would be necessary to increase the output tremendously. If any increase became necessary it would be a small item and could bo promptly overcome.