PRODUCERS' OUTLOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18276, 18 December 1922, Page 8

PRODUCERS' OUTLOOK.

THE EXPORT OF MEAT.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROSPECTS

MANY FACTORS TO WEIGH.

The outlook for producers was reviewed by Mr. W. H. Millward, chairman of directors, at the annual meeting of the Gear Meat Company in Wellington last week. " The season opened with heavy stocks of stale meat in Great Brit am," he said, " and a disinclination on the part tof buyers to take the risks of forward purchasing; but low prices created an increased consumption, ana this, together with sales to the Continent, rapidly improved the conditions, ana generally speaking mutton and lamb have since shown steady appreciation. "At the moment, owing to snort pplies, values have reached about double pre-war figures, which, upon larger 1 tities becoming available later on, may be found to be in excess of the purging power of the bulk of the consu • Unemployment., caused b.V disorganised foreign trade, unfavourable economic: conditions on the Continent, andopp -j 1 taxation, do not make for the buojtf* demand in Britain, which ma) b , sary to absorb the large exports ro Southern Hemisphere. Australia is> a p - sent shipping fairly large quantities ol lamb; and Patagonia ranl3 repeated purchases of Southdown r • in Britain, is endeavouring its proportion in this branch of the tr^ de ; " In New Zealand, the number of eves put to the ram last autumn was greater than for some years past, and as t lambing has, on tho whole, ® , good, a large number of lambs should be available for export. As the slaughter tof young stock increases, tho number wether* left to mature as mutton nece • sarily diminishes. But the lamb tradei is the more profitable, and, owing to the popalaritv of the Dominion's product, oui flock-owners will have good reason maintain their output. The sheep tics of this country have shown a diminution of four millions in the four years, and the stocks are now lower than nt anv period since 1907 Doubt ess with less financial pressure there will be larger number of suitable ewe lambs retained for breeding purposes, and by tins means the unfavourable position will ..8 rectified to some extent. In this connection it must, however, be borne in mind that dairving, in the Is crth Island at any rate, is 'making heavy inroads into our meat supplies. "South America has during the greater part of tho year had complete control of the beef market. Tho shipments of cmlled beef have shown a great increase, and as this description must necessarily be marketed within a week or so after arrival, tho frozen article has to go into the store to await a favourable opportunity to realise. In the hot weather the latter is more in demand for railing to the provinces, as owing to its lower temperatuie it carries better. The present prices for frozen beef should prove an attraction to those of limited means, and it is, therefore, probable that tho demand for t>ur prime quality may increase somewhat. " The United States and the Continent of Europo 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 und almost only customer. Vegetable oils have been in increasing supplv for edible purposes ; nevertheless tallow has, to its strong statistical position, remained fairly stable. W 7 ool« as far as tho finer grades are concerned, hns been most satisfact'ory, and as these sorts ar© absorbed the prospects for medium coarse crossbreds' becomes more favourable. •