MEAT FOR CONTINENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19328, 15 May 1926, Page 12

MEAT FOR CONTINENT.

ITALY AND FRANCE. THE RARANGA'S SHIPMENT. FIRST DIRECT CONSIGNMENT. [nv TELEGK.U'H. -OWN CORRESPON DENT, j GISBORNE. Friday. One of the mo.-,t inteic.st.ing .shipments that hits yel been made from New Zealand in the way of frozen meat is being taken on the Raranga now loading at Gisborne. Included in the shipment is a considerable quantity of veal, boneless beef and beef from this district for Italy and France. This is the first occasion on which it has been possible to completely load a vessel for Italy and France, with frozen meat from the Dominion. The reason is that the present season in several districts lias not been conducive to fattening. Italy is a great, consumer of the cheaper and coarser grades of beef, and also of veal, which is used for the sausages which are dear to the hearts of all Italians. Every year small shipments of veal have been made, but this year so many calves have been killed, especially in the North Island, that it has been possible, to provide a full cargo of veal and the cheaper grades of beef. The Raranga is now loading tins meat at various Dominion ports, after which she sails for Italy direct. Seldom, if ever before has so much veal been forthcoming from this district as has been Ihe case this year, and the Raranga, which will not completely clear out all the stocks, is taking from Gisborne 7783 sides and 312 quarters of veal for Genoa (Italy), and 357 sides of veal for Havre. (France). In addition to tins she is loading 1250 quarters of Poverty Bay beef and 13 tons of boneless beef for Genoa and 1006 quarters of beef for Havre. Practically all the. veal being loaded at Gisborne has boen bought by the one ilrm and farmers have received very fair prices for it. The boneless beef, on the other hand, is not bringing very big prices, but presents to farmers with poor-conditioued cattle another solution of the disposal problem. Many cattle that otherwise would have been " patters " have been used tor the purpose of producing boneless beef and producers are hoping that the prices at least will lie slightly more remunerative than those paid for the cattle that had to be slaughtered and boiled down.