MEAT SHIPMENTS IN 1927-28

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 225, 5 September 1928, Page 9

MEAT SHIPMENTS IN 1927-28

INCREASES IN ALL EXCEPT MUTTON. PROSPECTS FOR THE COMING SEASON. We now have to hand from the Meat Producers' Board figures which practically give a complete review of the 1927-28 export season, and compared with the preceding season they make interesting reading. The figures are for the period from October 1. 1927, to August 15, 1928, and though, to be a true comparison, we should take into consideration the stocks still held in the Dominion’s freezing works and meat in transit to the various world markets, the figures for meat actually sold will give a fair enough survey of the position. DISTRIBUTION OF MEAT. Shipments this year have been sent to London, Southampton, Hull, West Coast United Kingdom ports. Port Said, Antwerp New York, Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver and Cristobal. Hull, Antwerp, Cristobal and Montreal are new destinations compared with 1926-27, and apparently Havre, Genoa and Marseilles, to which shipments (principally of beef) were sent in that season have been dropped.

BEEF INCREASE 198.482 QUARTERS.

We shipped in all 308,846 quarters of beef, this being an increase of 198,482 quarters over the previous season, while the bulk of this beef (i.e., 209.933 quarters) went to various United Kingdom ports, 98.913 quarters were absorbed .by foreign marketo. New York alone taking 67,468 quarters. The increase in our beef export and its wider distribution to new markets must be considered satisfactory.

DECLINE IN MUTTON CONSUMPTION.

As we anticipated when writing this report twelve months ago, mutton consumption and export has shown a decline, 1,627,273 carcases having been exported this season against 1,628,874 last season: a decrease of only 1,601 carcases, certainly, but a clear indication that our clients want smaller ■ joints and younger, more tender meat. America, who took only 15,756 mutton carcases from us this past season might profitably be exploited for this class of meat. As it is her consumption of our mutton has considerably increased as in the. previous period she took only 4,863 carcases. BIG INCREASE IN LAMB. In 1927-28 we shipped 5.409,409 carcases of lamb against 4,952,227 in 1926-27; an increase of 457,182 carcases. Again the United States has absorbed 37,165 carcases as against 8,181 in the previous season, showing that they, too, prefer the better quality meat, PORK. Pork export is slowly creeping np, the amount shipped to date being 97,225 carcases against 715,J60 in the previous season, an increase of 24,665 carcases, but when to this is added an increase of 32,923 carcases still in store in New Zealand or on the water it will be seen that our pork industry has made considerable strides, the real advance over the previous season being 57,588 carcases.

FORECASTS FOR 1928-29. There is still great scope for development in our pork export industry, and next season, with proper organisation should see the present figures doubled. Beef, we hope, will show a further imereaSe also next year, mough the ever-increasing local demand, especially in the South Island, and the fact that we have not now the extensive herds of beef breed cattle that once stocked our stations, may prevent any spectacular export increase. Lamb, particularly with the market opening in the United States where it is Said to be rivalling the national pork, in favour, is sure to be wanted in greater quantity, and we will, no doubt, be able to supply the goods. It is probable that upwards of half a million more lambs will be exported this next season than in 1927-28. Mutton, unfortunately, does not hold out much promise of being in keener demand. I should think the Meat Board’s most urgent job was to look for fresh markets for this class of meat. The Continent, where the Argentine dumps most of her inferior beef and mutton and finds a ready market, would appear to be our best outlet, but during the season just passed wo appear to have neglected this entirely, leaving it solely’ for our chief competitor. It would pay the Dominion's producers handsomely if the Meat Board sent a representative or representatives +0 all the Continental countries and made special efforts to popularise our mutton there.