MEAT EXPORT SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22688, 29 March 1937, Page 5

MEAT EXPORT SEASON

SMALLER SHIPMENTS MADE ONLY TWO CLASSES HIGHER LAMB AND CHILLED BEEF \\ itli the exception of chilled beef and lamb, smaller shipments of all classes of meat wore made in the export season from October 1, 1030. to March 15, compared with the same period in the previous season, according to figures issued by the .New Zealand Meat Producers' Board. Shipments of chilled beef increased from 52, 175 quarters to 80,207 quarters, and lamb from 3,070,181 carcases to .">,218,010 carcases. A total of 528,810 carcases of mutton, against 627,021 carcases, was shipped and 280,051 carcases of pork, against M 0,280 carcases. Exports of frozen beef were 43.003 quarters, compared with 80,222 quarters and boneless beef 50,10(5 bags, compared with 71,070 bans. Killings of stock for export during the period compare as iollows: — 1 Chilled beef (quarters) f<s, lsi 58,<>!."» frozen beef (quarters) 'J 1 5 Wethers (carcases) .. o:{l,7(i'J (»•_'•*>,oT.'i Kwes (carcases) .. .'Kib.oo 1 Lambs (carcases) .. s,!il."i.U'J.") 5, 1 1 l'orkers (carcases) .. '-"-'0,076 IT,IO Baconers (carcases) .. IMU.I'J" I(>l,Kit boneless beef (ft. c/cs.) I.'S-'.MUO 1!>7,172 lioneless bobby veal (c/cs.) Tu.ObO 45.3H0 Sundries (carcases) .. 150,111 14U.U17 Stocks of meat in New Zealand at March 15, compare as follows with those at March 15, 10.30, which arc given in parentheses:—Chilled beef (quarters), 6828 (134); frozen beef (quarters), 9706 (14,4:51); wethers (carcases), 274,.'570 (291,745); ewes (carcases), 237,916 (174,234); lambs (carcases), 2,405,288 (2,020,667); porkers (carcases), 61,323 (55,923); baconers (carcases), 52,479 (20,095); boneless beef (freight carcases), 68,471 (83,629); boneless bobby veal (freight carcases), 34,447 (24,687); sundries (freight carcases), 50.844 (48,010). Stocks m vessels not departed from New Zealand were as follows: —Chilled beef (quarters), 5104 (8759); irozen beef (quarters), 3191 (8001); wethers (carcases), 57.680 (44.629); ewes (carcases), 51,857 (17,54(3); lambs (carcases), 412.273 (302,630); porkers (carcases), 10.105 (14,858); baconers (carcases;, 13,831 (10,841). EXPANDING TRADE PROGRESS 15 Y NEW ZEALAND Evidence of the remarkable increase of New Zealand's meat trade with Britain was given by Mr. 11. S. Eorsvth. London representative of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, at a meeting of the New Zealand group of the Overseas League in London recently. In 1014 only 5,500,000 carcases of lamb were imported into Britain, NewZealand sending 3,500,000. In 1936 New Zealand sent 9,000,000 of a total of 17,000,000. In 1914 the highest price realised was 6d a lb., while in 1936 the average price of New Zealand's best quality lamb was 7Jd. war had greatly extended New Zealand's market by breaking down in millions of homes the prejudice against frozen meat.

Now Zealand's contribution was important in quantity, but even more so in quality. Throughout last year a premium of a penny per lb. over South American and £d over Australian was obtained. This represented an_nnnu.il premium for quality of £1,750.000. "Since 1 began here when the board was inaugurated 1-1 years ago," said Mr. Forsyth, "1 have made it m.v business to try to see that that premium for quality is maintained. To-day the great railway companies use our lamb in their dining cars and hotels for six or seven months of the year."

TASMANIAN APPLES HEAVY SHIPMENTS MADE The Tasmanian orchard fruit export season is in full swing. To the middle of March 497,97(5 cases of apples and pears had been shipped. A substantial beginning has, therefore, been made toward Tasmania's quota of about 2,300,000 cases. This export quota total represents but half of the expectant total crop, which is calculated to yield more than -1.750.000 bushels of apples and pears, so that Australian markets will have large quantities to absorb. The likely total of 4,500.000 bushels of Tasmanian apples for the present season, although short of the 4,018.-0( I case average for the last five years b\ ! 118,000 cases, presents a great bulk or | marketable fruit, and growers are awaitI in°* with lively expectation the once i indication that will be forthcoming from 1 sales returns for the early shipments I sent away.