THE CONTINENT AND MEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 11

THE CONTINENT AND MEAT.

ITALY'S INCREASING MARKET ANOTHER BOAT FOR GENOA. Iho New Zealand Moat Producers' Board is concentrating every effort to extend 4he trade in New Zealand frozen meat on the Continent. It has recently arranged with tho shipping companies for a further steamer to lead frozen meat in New Zealand for Genoa. This steamer, the Gallic, will load about the middle of March at ports where sufficient inducement offers. Tho freight rate has been fixed at 15-16 d per lb. for pork, beef, including boneless beef, and veal. This rate is l-16d per lb. less than that charged for tho previous steamer which loaded for Genoa. Including tho quantity to be shipped in the Gallic, tho total shipments to Genoa will amount to approximately 231.000 freight carcases. Shipments of frozen meat have also been made, to Hamburg, and further arrangements are being made for shipping to that port. The total shipments arranged this reason for Hamburg, so far, amount to approximately 65,000 freight carcases. The Board's London representative, Mr. Forsyth, recently paid a visit to Italy to look into tho position there. He found that, whereas in 1922 the imports of frozen meat totalled 13,965 tons, the total in 1924 was 115,000 tons. Imported beef was selling at from 5d to 6d per lb., and home-killed Italian at from lOd to Is 2d. Imported beef is now one of the. cheapest foods in Italy, this being the real reason for the great increase in importation. Italy enly required second quality. She did all her cooking in oil, and therefore did not require fat on her moat. There was a good trado to be, done in veal. Argentine shipped the bulk of the calves in their skins, a3 there was a good demand for hides in Italy, and it was considered that the meat opened out whiter when shipped in the skin. Pork was also used for manufactured sausage, and while Italy required lean beef and veal, she required heavy-weight pork, up to 2401b. and over if possible. There was practically no demand at all for either mutton or lamb. Mr. Forsyth stayed a day in Pans, and took the opportunity of inspecting the public meat market, and seeing several of the meat people. France also required lean beef, with all suets taken out. France took about, 8000 tons of mutton annually from South America. He understood half of this quantity was for Army requirements, and was heavy-weight Plate ewes. Lamb did not seem to be appreciated at its true worth in France, freshkilled being sold at practically the same price as mutton. For the public trade in mutton. South America sent second quality Patagonian wethers, weighing 33-5611)., and they could sell heavier weights than these.