N.Z. MEAT BOARD

Grey River Argus, 28 August 1937, Page 11

N.Z. MEAT BOARD

Chairman’s Address ANNUAL-MEETING. WELLINGTON, August 27. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board is being held to-day. Mr. T. A. Duncan, in the Chairman’s address, said the Board had exercised its usual care in the regulation of supplies of meat going to the British market. This had been exceedingly difficult this year, owing to the lateness or the season. In ar-

ranging freight, careful consideration was also given to the spreading oi supplies over as wide a geographical area as possible in Britain, having regard to the capacities of the respective markets.

Speaking of quality, he said the premium enjoyed by New Zealand lamb over other imported lamb, if calculated on the whole output, would amount to a very considerable annual sum. Ev°ry endeavour must be made by farmers Io see that this premium was maintained, or increased especially as otr.er countries were gradually improving their quality The more prime quality meat New Zealand could ship, the greater would be the permanent asset thereby erected, in the enhanced reputation o’ the Dominion’s me at. He commended the interest being taken by farmers in tha district lamb competitions, and referred to the use ful work A. and P. Associations ana freezing companies were doing in arranging field days, and co-operating with the Board in eo.inec'.i? i witfi the competition. He gave the chilled beef export fig ures for 1935-36 as 144,169 quarters, and for 1936-37 season, it was estimated they would reach (approx.) 200,000 quarters. He emphasised there was room for improved quality, and it was imperative that' cattle sent along to works should be thoroughly finisned off.

The question of adequate facilities to meet fully the requirements of this trade, having regard to future expansion, had been for some time engaging the attention of the Board, which was in close touch with the freezing companies, shipping companies and the Railways Department. In regard to pork, he said it was pleasing to note the Department of Agrictulture had introduced a national scheme for tne development of the pig industry, which would be available to all farmers. Practical and qualified instructive service should do much to improve the general type and quality of pigs. New Zealand porker pigs were particularly well thought of on the Smithfield market In fact, in the opinion of the trade, there was no better quality coming to that market. There was room for improvement in baconers, and the Board was of the opinion that the time was opportune for the standard of grading baconers to be revised. The new freight contract, which commenced on September 1, last year, for frozen and chilled meat and dairy produce represented (approx.) two and a-half per cent., converted into sterling, and payable in sterling in London.

The Chairman went on to refer to the imports allocation agreement recently entered into with the United Kingdom Government, and to' the United Kingdom treaty with Argentine, also to the active prosecution of the advertising campaign and research work.