MEAT PRODUCERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 221, 1 September 1932, Page 8

MEAT PRODUCERS

PAST SEASON’S PROBLEMS DECREASE IN FLOCKS. COMPETITION AT SMITHFIELD. Wellington, Sept. 1. Phases of the frozen meat trade during the past year were reviewed by the acting chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, Mr. T. A. Duncan, ox Hunterville, at the annual meeting of delegates constituting the electoral committee yesterday morning. Marketing problems and foreign competition on the British market were the chief subjects discussed by Mr. Duncan, who said the present season had been a most difficult one in the work of regulating shipments. This was due to the local conditions prevailing —an early season, abnormal killings of both mutton and lamb, and uncertainty of beef killings. After referring to the decrease in New. Zealand flocks, Mr. Duncan said it wks satisfactory to note that the percentage of breeding ewes to the total.-flocks was being maintained. The Inst lambing returns showed an estimated increase of approximately 560,|DOO, as compared with the previous year, but as against that increase an additional number of lambs had been killed, this year up to the end of July, ns compared with the same date last year. When the number of sheep held in the Dominion in 1930 was consiuereo it could not be said that the country was at present over-stocked, and the large quantity of owes, and especially ewe lambs, being slaughtered was a matter for concern.

“The low prices obtained this season for by-products of fat stock,” said Mr. Duncan, “have been a very important factor contributing to the low ,value offered for fat stock. Farmers arc inclined to judge the position by Values realised on Smithfield, and do not realise the important bearing byproducts have on the prices offered by operators. THE EXCHANGE FACTOR. “With the present intense competition on Smithfield, the exchange position to-day has a very important bearing on valties, giving our competitors an added advantage, resulting in production being encouraged in those countries, and making it increasingly difficult for farmers in this Dominion to compete on the Home market. In audition to the present economic conditions et Home, the tightening up of the dole regulation has also, no doubt, tended to nffect the demand for all foodstuffs, and is, doubtless, one of the factors .in reflecting the buying power. BACON AND PORK. “Imports of bacon and pork into Great Britain for 1931 total 594,000 tons, of which foreign imports amount to 547,000 tons. In addition, the United Kingdom production is about 250,000 tons, making a total consumption of 844,000 tons. Out of this total con•eumption. foreign countries, therefor*, provide two-thirds of the quantity. The figures for the first five months of 1932 show a still further increase of imports.”

Bacon and pork imports into Great Britain, Mr. Dunean continued, showed the striking increase of 150,724 tons over the period of the last two years. Continental bacon, which comprised the great bulk of these imports, had been selling for over twelve months at extremely low prices—45/- to ' 55/- per ewt. in London (about 5d per pound). j his was well below the eost of production. The present price of Danish bacon was now quoted at 55/- per cwt., as compared with its average price for the year 1929 of 115/6 per cwt, or a reduction in price of 52 per cent.

“At these low prices,” added Mr. Duncan, “bacon has been a great competitor in Great Britain of all other meats, bacon supplanting other meats at all meals in many homes, while the price of New Zealand lamb and mutton has been directly affected by the low price of foreign bacon. * ’ REGULATION OF SHIPMENTS. To illustrate the enormous development in the export of frozen lamb to the United Kingdom, it might be mentioned that in 1913 the total shipments from New Zealand, Australia and South America amounted to 5,617,405 lambs, whereas for the 12 months ended December 31, 193 J, the total shipments reached 16,805,140. Despite the large increase in the quantities of lamp now being shipped to the United Kingdom from other parts of the world, it was very pleasing to see that New Zealand lamb still retained its premier position, due to its outstanding quality. If these large shipments to the United Kingdom from other parts of thq wprld w.ere to continue, and they were. also making strenuous efforts to improve, their quality, it made it all the more necessary foi this Dominion to concentrate still further on improving the quality of its lamb. , CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION. Having in view the steady increase in their output of lamb, the board had been using every endeavour to enlarge the channels of distribution. Along with the Dominion’s increasing lamb production the board was making every effort to further extend their trade by advertising. New Zealand pork was now becoming favourably established on the Smithfield market, and every endeavour was made by the board to encourage and develop their export trade in this class of meat, particularly with the present economic position before them. The amount expended on advertising for the past year amounted to £17,397. For the current year the board had authorised up to £20,000 to meet the demand for advertising, and it might therefore be necessary to encroach on reserve-funds. - -