MEAT TRADE OUTLOOK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21962, 20 November 1934, Page 5

MEAT TRADE OUTLOOK

PROSPECTS IN AUSTRALIA MINGLED HOPE AND FEAR ENCOURAGING SIGNS [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, Nov. 14 In Australian meat trade circles this week there, has been a strange mingling of hope and fear. Likely developments in the industry have created a great deal of interest, but when a discussion of the significance of the new moves was at its height news leaked out that the Federal Government would most likely agree to a suspension of all meat exports for a period of two mouths. If this prohibition should be imposed it is felt that the industry will receive such a serious blow that it will not recover for at least another 12 months.

Interested parties have not waited for an official pronouncement, but have condemned the Government for oven considering the is predicted that the result would be a serious price crash, with the producer receiving less than at any time in the history of the meat trade. It is pointed out that the vast Queensland herds would have to find a market somewhere, and that Queensland meat would probably flood the markets of tho other States. A Government pronouncement is eagerly awaited. It is believed that the Government will claim that there is an international aspect, and that ultimately the effect on Australia will be beneficial. Promising Indications The brighter side of tho picture is provided by the latest trade statistics, which show that the exports of Australian beef, lamb and mutton during July, August and September, were valued at £1,201,983, an improvement this year of nearly £340,000 over the figures for . the same months last year. The general outlook was' held to bo most promising. Great success has attended the shipments of chilled beef to the English market, and there are many who predict that within the next 18 months the meat trade in Australia will be completely revolutionised. An encouraging sign is that many of the big meat concerns are planning huge expenditure in order to bring their works up to date. It is understood that the Metropolitan Meat Industry Commissioner in New South Wales has advised the Government of the necessity of providing facilities afc the Sydney abattoirs for the handling of cattle for the chilled beef trade. Operations of Big firms The firm of Vesty's will probably commence very soon to make shipments of chilled beef from Riverstone meat works, near Sydney, and it is of interest to note that this firm ofrns the Blue Star Line, which is coming actively into Australia's export trade. Another interesting development is the faking over of the Gladstone meat works in Queensland by Swifts (Aust.), Limited. From £20,000 to £25,000 will be spent by the firm in fitting up the works to handle the chilled beef trade. A representative of the firm stated this week that Swifts were optimistic regarding • the future of Australian chilled beef. Still another significant development may'be found in the fact that a representative of one of the world's biggest meat companies, recently visited Australia. Nothing is known definitely of the firm's plans, but it is believed that it is (investigating the possibility of acquiring a share in the Australian meat trade. A big English meat company has also been impressed with the success achieved so far with chilled beef, and has arranged to send a representative to Australia to make a first-hand investigation.