THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1927. THE MEAT INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19698, 26 July 1927, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1927. THE MEAT INDUSTRY.

With the appearance of another annual report from the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, the outlook for a large section of the farming industry again comes under review. The destiny of New Zealand as a pastoral country above everything else has become so firmly established that it is difficult, if not impossible, to conceive of its being changed, at least ivithin measurable time. Other commodities play their part in swelling the total of exports by which the Dominion maintains its economic life, but it is on the products tracing back to the grasslands that the entire structure ultimately rests. Dairy produce, wool, meat—these three rule, and any circumstance affecting the return they bring has consequences reacting throughout the life of the community. Of late attention has been focussed upon the dairying industry. Without minimising its importance, there must be recognition that it does not represent the sum total of the pastoralist's interest. Neither does wool. The meat producer cannot be disregarded. Like the dairy farmer, he looks to Great Britain as his principal market. The greatest importer of foodstuffs in the world, Britain, has a consuming capacity which could account for all the meat that could be produced on the pastures of New Zealand, and much timore. The problem of demand and •jßupply is not so simple, however, as •that position would imply. There is : keen competition in the market. The at which rivals are ready to ; isell, and the appeal they make with the quality of their offerings, affect New Zealand's prospects profoundly. This is especially noticeable in the rraarket for beef, one of first importance to the Dominion, and one which tis giving a good deal of anxiety. u it is reviewed in detail by the report. The importance of beef-growing to Zealand has been strongly i emphasised of late, so that the section devoted to it by the board is -omainly a recapitulation of what has fbeen said before. Repetition is excusable, for a shrinkage in the Uherds of beef cattle threatens consequences which go far beyond the curtailment of one class of export commodity. The degree •in which heavy grazing by dry cattle Bs essential to keep much pasture ftand in proper condition was pressed strongly upon public attention some two years ago by the commission which surveyed the farm lands of the Korth Island tending to revert to secondary growth. It was then emphasised, on unimpeachable authority, that first among the measures to keep in check fern and other plants appearing as the advance guard of the returning forest was the firee-ranging active beast destined fjor the slaughter-house and probably £©r export. If farmers could not j profitably run cattle, then eventually tjiey would find it impossible to run slieep. The state of the British niarket for beef has a very important bearing, therefore, on the pastoral industry generally. It is unfortunate that no cheering word can be spioken of the present outlook. The fu3l supplies reaching London from foreign sources, the fierce competition. the advantage of shorter transit a mil lower freights, the further advantage of shipment chilled instead of frozen, still make the outlook for New Zealand beef far from good. Thns the total of cattle slaughtered for export still falls. Nothing can remove the handicap of distance und«ir which the Dominion labours. Experiments have been made, but it has not yet been shown that the mefqb can be transported in any condition other than frozen. The only visiVile way in which the New Zealand grower can better his chances is b# breeding a type of beast conforming more to that produceed by his Siouth American rivals. It is the smalt carcase, young and quickly matured, that appeals to the British buyen, South America has long specialised in producing it. Whether by breeding on these lines the Dominion can profitably increase the export of beef and thus safeguard the pastures is a question of insistent importance. It has not yet been answea*ed, as the report of the Meat Board shows. In mutton and lamb New Zealand fortunately enjoys an Unchallenged reputation for quality of output. The pirice realised, the devising of means for reducing costs and improving returns are legitimate subjects of care, but in type and quality lamb especially has already reachod an enviable position. With the maintenance of the standard established, with the addition of any possible refinements, New Zealand should meet squarely the competition which threatens from other countries. The position so far, beef a real'anxiety, mutton and lamb in a mudh better position, docs not exhaust the subject. Pork for export hjas been much discussed of late. There is evidence of an extensive* market in Great Britain. The Imperial Economic Committee noted that in 1924, out of £105,44{7,000 spent on imported meat of all classes, £50,848,000, or 48 per cent., went to purchase pig products, foreign countries taking £40,120j000. The greater part of the expenditure was for bacon and hams, Taut the uncured pork imported "was by no means negligible. Here is a trade in which New Zealand has determined to figure more largely. As the committee emphasised, the core of the problem is to produce the type of animal appealing moist to the British consumer. Steps to effect this have already been taken. A successful development of tthis branch of trade, linking

the dairying and meat industries, may mean much to New Zealand. Nothing of the kind can conquer the serious difficulty overshadowing beef production, but there should be an increased source of revenue, and a profitable sideline for the dairy farmer, if pork gains a higher place among the commodities making up New Zealand's highly important meat export industry.