PRODUCERS’ OUTLOOK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 23 December 1922, Page 8

PRODUCERS’ OUTLOOK

niK export op mea’i.

IMI’I’OV E.M ENT EN I* ROSE ECUS MANY EACTORS TO \VKIUII | The uni look for producer? was review- 1 cl by .Nir W. 11. MilLnni, chan man oC directors, at the animal meeting m i Ik; Gear Meat Company in W ellmgimi j last week. “Tin- m'iimiii opened | heavy slocks of Gale ineci nr Great I Britain.” in> said. "and a dismchnaliou on tlie part of buyers 10 take Urn risks of forward purchasing: Gut low prices created an increased (junauuiptmn, and tliis. together wild sales lit tho Continent,' rajiidlv improved die eomiiiions. and generally speaking mutton and l;tml* have since shown steady aporeei.-!.-(ion. “At the moment, owing lo short snpjdies. values have reached ahoni double! pre-war figures, vvlneli, upon larger 1 plant lines becoming aval abb:' later on. may lie found to be in excess oi l lie purchasing power o! ill.'* bulk oi the consumers, tou'injdo.vineii!. caused bv disorganised foreign trade, unfavourable eeononiic conditions? on the Continent. and oppressive taxation, do not make for (lie buoyant demand in Britain, which may he necessary to absorb the large exports from tim Southern Hemisphere. Australia is at present slopping fairly largo quantities of lamb; and Patagonia, Judging from the repealed purchases of Southdown rams in Britain, is endeavouring lo increase its proportion in this branch j of the trade. “In New Zealand, the number of ewes put in the rani last autumn was greater than for some years pa si. and as the lambing has. on (lie winde. been verv good, a large number oi lambs .should bo available for export. As the slaughter of young stock increases, the number of wethers left lo mature as mutton necessarily diminishes. Bin the lamb trade is the more profitable, and, owing to ihe popularity of the Dominion’;; product, our Hoc!;.owner? will have good reason to maintain their output. The sheep statistics of this country have shown a diminution of four millions in the last four years, and I tie stocks are now lower than at any period .since 1907. Doubtless with less financial pressure there will be a larger iramber of suitable ewe lambs retained for- breeding 1 purposes, and by this means the unfavourable position will he rectified to some extent. In this connection it must, however, be borne in mind that dairying, in the North Island at any rate, is making heavy inroads into our meat supplies. “South America has during the greater part of the year load complete control of the beef market.' The shipments of chilled beef have shown a great increase. and as this description must necessarily bo marketed within a week or so 'after arrival the frozen article lias to go into (lie store to await a , favourable opportunity to realise. In the hot weather Ihe latter is more in demand for railing to the provinces, as ; owing to its lower temperature it car- | n’es better. The present prices for | Frozen beef should prove an attraction jlo those of limited moans, and it is. therefore, probable that the demand for ;our prime quality may increase somewhat. ‘ ! “The. United 'states and the Continj cut of Europe have been disappointing ' so far as the buying of our meat products is concerned; and the United Kingdom has, as in the past, been our best and almost, only customer. Vegetable oils have, been in increasing sup- ; piy_ for edible purposes ; nevertheless ; tallow has, owing to its strnog statistical position, remained fairly stable, i Wool, as far as the liner grades are ! concerned, lias been most satisfactory, . and as these sorts are absorbed the prospects for medium coarse crossbred? become .more favourable.’’