Immediate Future Of Meat Industry Appears Assured

Northern Advocate, 28 August 1947, Page 6

Immediate Future Of Meat Industry Appears Assured

(Special) WELLINGTON, This Day. WHILE the future of New Zealand’s meat industry appears to be assured until the end of the 1949-50 season, prospects after that date are obscured. Commenting on the industry’s future in the 25th annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, the chairman (Mr A H Grigg) stated that the future appears to be assured because of the funds in the Meat Pool and Meat Industry Stabilisation Account and secondly as the disposal of the Dominion’s exportable surplus was guaranteed until the end of the 1949-50 season

“During the war years the production of meat for export increased by approximately 20 per cent on pre-war tonnages. “A great deal depends on the future policy of British agriculture and on whether the statement that the consumption of meat in the United Kingdom will prove to be greatly in excess of the pre-war figure when rationing ceases, turns out to be true in fact.” The meat industry in New Zealand was dependent on the United Kingdom and Mr Grigg urged continued support of the Empire preference programme. “In the past we have survived the test of competing with countries more favourably placed geographically, by reason of the quality of our product coupled with the low costs of production.”

dustry Stabilisation Account* if reflected as a farm cost, would increase this figure to more than 40 per cent. Costs of processing, conveying and distributing products were also rising. As living standards were dependent upon exports which comprised mainly farm products, every rise in the cost of production not represented by a similar rise in the price received for the product, constituted a danger not only to New Zealand’s agricultural industries but also to the whole national economy.

The present trend for a higher standard of living, coupled with higher wages and shorter working hours was leading to higher costs of production. On sheep farms the costs of production had already risen by more than 30 per cent since 1939 and were continuing to climb. Subsidies chargeable to the Meat In-

“There is an inherent danger in building up costs of production when we are not aware of the true value of our produce on a competitive market. During the past 25 years the freezing industry had grown in stature as measured by the yardstick of efficiency but had been reduced as measured by the number of works. Twenty-five years ago 28 works m the North Island killed 138,627 601 b. freight carcases and in the 'South Island 15 works killed 125,609 carcases. For the 1945-46 season 18 works in the North Island handled 474,723 carcases while’ 15 in the South Island put through 272,615 carcases.