FROZEN MEAT EXPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21067, 29 December 1931, Page 3

FROZEN MEAT EXPORT.

LAMB KILLINGS INCREASE. FALLING OFF IN PORK. A large increase in the killings of lamb and mutton for export this season is revealed in the latest returns issued by the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board. Lamb killings at 1.278.230 carcases for the two and a-half months to December 15 are more than double those for the corresponding period of last year. In the North Island the killings were 1,057,608 carcases, against 576,604. and in the South Island 220.622, compared with 38,164. Dominion killings of mutton for the period totalled 183,201 carcases, compared with 115,845 a year ago, the North Island furnishing 177,543 carcases, against 111,666 last year, and the South Island 5658, against 4179. Details of the killings for export at all works from October 1- to December 15, in carcases, except where otherwise stated, compare as follows: 1931. 1930. Beef (quarter?) . . 2,953 (T.fCiO Wether mutton . . 129.'287 88,348 Ewe mutton .. 53,914 27.497 Lamb . . . . 1,278,230 014,76.-1 Porkers . . . . 25.122 33,685 Baeoners . . . . 5,791 9.742 Boneless beef . . 32,210 20,564 Sundries . . . . 4C.71G 42,710 Exports of lamb for the two months and a half of the present season to December 15 show an increase of nearly 50 per cent, over those of a year ago. Beef shipments also show an increase, but the exports of mutton and pork during the period are well below those of the early part of last season. J. C. WILLIAMSON, LTD. LOSS OF £32.930 SHOWN. A loss of £32,930 is shown in the accounts of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., theatrical entrepreneurs, Sydney, for the year ended June 30. This compares with a loss of £16,503 in 1930. The gross profit for the year, £21,687, was £39,883 lower than in 1930. Expenditure totalled £54,617, as against £61,570 in the previous year. No dividend is recommended. Last year preference shares received the full 8 per cent, and ordinary shares per cent. The loss shown would have been greater but that credit has been taken for a sum of £14,120 due to the company obtaining a security over a property for an accumulated debt. Reserve account has been increased by £Bl7l, resulting from similar adjustments of accounts and resumptions by the City Council of the company's Darling Harbour freehold. The report states that the company has suffered with others owing to the reduced spending power of the community. Its difficulties have been further intensified by the onerous severity of the Federal and State entertainment taxes, a severity which is throttling the amusement industry, thereby reducing employment.

JAPANESE SHIPPING. EFFECT OF DEPRESSION. The half-yearly accounts of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Japanese Steam Navigation Company, presented to shareholders at the half-yearly meeting in Japan last month, disclosed a loss of £B4OO, after providing for various reserves and for depreciation to the extent of £555,400. Mr. Kenkuhi Kagami, the president, said that the prevailing depression in the world's shipping trade was steadily growing worse. The existence of large numbers of vessels laid up throughout the world was a menace to recovery, as any improvement in freights would bring fresh tonnage into competition. - The fact that Great Britain had gone off the gold standard and that Japanese goods were boycotted by China had. also a very serious effect on the company's business. LONDON MANSION HOUSE. SALE FOR £750,000.

An announcement was recently made that Lord Lansdowne had sold Lansdowne House, Berkeley Square, at a price approaching £750,000. The property has a site area of 86,000 ft. The purchasers intended to build over the forecourt, and a new street is to be formed by the Westminster City Council. This will connect Berkeley Square with the Curzon Street end of Lansdowne Passage. The house will be preserved and used by the Bruton Club. The rear portion of .the property, fronting on Clarges Street, is to be dealt with as building sites.

Lansdowne House was built in 1766 from the designs of the brothers Adam, for Lord Bute. Lord Shelburne, afterwards Marquess of Lansdowne, bought the house, which was then in an unfinished state, from Lord Bute for £22,000. The house has been not only a great social and political centre, but a treasure house of paintings, manuscripts and statuary, including, of course, tho famous marbles.

In 1774, while he was librarian at Lans- - downo House, Priestley discovered oxygen. About 15 years later the library was built by George Dance, jun., R.A. Tho third Marquess formed a magnificent gallery of paintings at Lansdowne House early in the last century.

The sale definitely closes the association of two great families with the rectangular enclosure that extends from Piccadilly to Berkeley Square. The grounds of the old Devonshire House were divided bv Lansdowne Passage from those of Lansdowno House.

AUSTRALIA'S DEBT. YEAR'S TOTAL £92,000,000. The total amount payable by the Commonwealth of Australia in London during the year ended June 30, 1932. is estH mated bv the Svdnev Morning Herald at £92,000.000. First "thei •e is interest on the debt and other annual Government commitments, reduced to £30.000.000, now that the British war debt payments have been postponed. Then there is £30,125.000 due to the Commonwealth Bank in London, £2.950,000 due in London to the trading banks, arid £5.000.000 due to the Westminster Bank. The last amount is on Treasury bills, which are expected to be renewed till March 31. Further, there are State loans falling due, amounting to a total of £24.255,000. Most optimistic estimates give an excess of exports over imports of £38,000,000. 'with which the £92.000,000 is to be paid.