MEAT EXPORTS FROM THE DOMINION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 198, 4 August 1928, Page 12

MEAT EXPORTS FROM THE DOMINION

SHOW A STEADY INCREASE REVIEW OF PERIOD OCTOBER TO JULY During the nine and a-half month period from October Ist.. 1927, to July loth., 1928, all classes of meat exported from New Zealand showed substantial increases when compared with the same period for the previous shipping season. Beef export increased b v 201,060 quarters, mutton by 79,428 carcases; lamb by 523,526 carcases and pork by 24,911 carcases. Among the notable features of the season so fay are the increases of beef, mutton and lamb sent to North America where, it would appear, we have a big market which only requires developing. Also, during the past season there has been better distribution of our meat than was accomplished in the 1926-27 season.

Given a continuance of the U.S.A, embargo on Argentine supplies, another season should see us well established on the United States market with meat, butter and cheese but it should be borne in mind that while widened markets for all our produce is desirable, what we want chiefly to encourage in America is the consumption of our beef and mutton. We have a sound and growing market in England for lamb and pork, with almost unlimited demand, but in the Home country they do not display much keenness for our beef and mutton, neither of which conform to their demand for small joints and young tender meat. Our export of beef to New York, Hailfax and Vancouver increased during the past season from 17,710 quarters to 51,004 quarters, an increase of 3,3.294 quarters, while during the same period we sent England 202.982 quarters as against 47,366 in the previous season, an increase of 155.616 quarters. Unless this extra amount went to Great Britain to supply army meat contracts it would appear that much of it might profitably have been sent to America to supply the undoubted shortage there. Our mutton, sent to America increased from 4,863 carcases to 15,756 enreases. A considerable increase, hut compared with the extra 68.535 carcases sent to Great Britain a negligible quantity. It is to be hoped that during the coming season our Meat Board will make a supreme effort to establish a sound market for beef and mutton with our American neighbours.