MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18021, 21 February 1922, Page 6

MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

NEW ZEALAND'S OUTPUT.

A SUBSTANTIAL SHARE. COMMENTS ON THE POOL. [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Mouday. Tho press cablegram, published this morning, containing information extracted from Weddell and Co.'s annual review was brought under the notice of the Prime Minister to-day. "The criticism of New Zealand's meat scheme contained in Weddell and Co.'s remarks appears specially aimed at the idea of establishing a complete compulsory pool during the present season," he said. "The suggestions made by Weddell and Co. iudicate various means by which an improvement in the handling and marketing of our meat can be brought about and afford specially interesting reading, as they in many respects almost exactly reflect the views of those in New Zealand who have thought* out the meat scheme. These expressions of opinion, coming from a firm of such high standing, will he of great assistance, and it is hoped that the New Zealand board and its London agency, when they become established, will have the co-operation of Weddell and other • important British firms in bringing about ■ this necessary improvement." Mr. Mnssey also referred to the figures ; quoted by Weddell and Co. showing the i total importation of meat into England ) during 1921. These figures, he said, de- ' monstrated the magnitude of the trade and its importance to the consuming pub- , lio in Great Britain. New Zealand's share was extensive, and figures recently prepared from trustworthy records afforded ' an interesting illustration of this. Taking ' tho period of eight years commencing 1 1913, New Zealand provided no less than " 63.21 per cent, of the average annual im- ' portationg of carcases of frozen lamb into 1 the United Kingdom and 43.2 per cent, of the average annual imf portations of frozen mutton carcases. As regards beef, our output was relatively b much smaller and constituted only 10.87 5 per cent, of tho United Kingdom's aver- . ago annual importations of frozen beef quarters for this eight-year period. We send no chilled beef to England, and if 1 the import figures for chilled and frozen j beef in quarters were combined our beef I percentage was reduced to approximates 8 per cent. Taking mutton and beef together, the records on which the above - figures were based showed that New Zeai land over this eight-year period provi led ' (on the basis of number of carcases i 28.8 • per cent, of the whole average annual i importation of frozen meat into the i United Kingdom.