MEAT EXPORTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1941, Page 8

MEAT EXPORTS

SEASON’S PROSPECTS REVIEWED WELLINGTON, July 23. In a statement issued to-day, Mr. Barclay, Minister of Marketing, briefly reviewed the present position of the export meat industry in New Zealand. Commenting on the present season, he said that we had commenced production this year with a carry-over in store of 40,000 tons of meat and for the full period of the season, ending on September 30 next, a further 340,000 tons would ultimately be purchased by the New Zealand Government. , . By economies, such as boning, trimming, and canning, this gross quantity of 340,000 tons would be reduced to a net exportable surplus of 316,000 tons, making the total available for export, 356,000 tons. The United "Kingdom Government has agreed to purchase, for the current season, a definite quantity of 248,000 tons. It was expected that this quantity would be lifted by September 30. Therefore, the carry-over into the 1941-42 season would be 108,000 tons, but included in this figure was 6,000 tons of meat already earmarked for canning, leaving a net carry-over of exportable meat of 102,000 tons. On estimates compiled-by the Marketing Department, based on the experience of past seasons, it was assessed that the normal exportable kill curing the 1941-42 season would be approximately 335,000 tons, or nearly the same as the quantity available during tne present season. In view of the fact that the average total export kill during the past five years has only been 306,000 tons, including two exceptionally heavy years, the estimate of 335,000 tons for the coming year is a reasonable one on this evidence. Again this quantity of meat could be reduced by the same economies as have been applied this season, by canning, boning and trimming, to a net figure of 250,000 tons. SHIPPING SPACE. “It is extremely difficult,” he said, “to estimate with any certainty the actual shipping space which will be available during the coming season, but in this connection we have followed the advice of our representatives in the United Kingdom, who are in constant touch with the Ministries of Food and Shipping, and wno keep the New Zealand Government fully advised as to shipping possibilities. For obvious reasons, it would be unwise to make any statement as to the actual quantity of shipping which we assess will be available during the coming season, but the estimate that has been taken is a conservative one on the evidence available. On this basis, the total quantity of export meat in store at tne peak of the season next year will not be in excess of 210,000 tons. We will have available at the commencement of this season a total storage capacity, excluding the freezers, oi 253,000 tons, leaving a reasonable safety margin of at least 40,000 tons to meet any emergency. It would appear that some sections of the meat producers are expressing considerable apprehension as to the general export and storage position during the coming year, but, on the evidence which I have now made available, it is clear that there is no real cause for alarm. Unless some entirely unforseen contingency arises, the position as a whole is safe for at least the next 18 months. “In conclusion, I should again stress the fact that the actions taken by the Government are based finally on actual information we receive from representatives constantly in touch, with the Ministries controlling the importation of foodstuffs and the allocation of shipping. The advice we receive from this source is the best available, and undoubtedly is the advice which should be followed.”