THE MEAT BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 15

THE MEAT BOARD

REVIEW OF THE YEAE

QUALITY OF EXPORTS IMPROVEMENT IMPORTANT [by TELEGRAPH —rRESS association] WELLINGTON. Friday The work of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board and the Dominion's meat trade were' reviewed by the deputy-chairman, Mr. T. A. Duncan, who presided at the annual meeting of the board to-day. Mr. Duncan said the regulation of tho supplies of meat going to the British market had been exceedingly difficult this year, owing to the lateness of the season. In arranging freight, careful consideration was also given to the spreading of supplies over as wide a geographical area as possible in Britain, having regard to the capacities of the respective markets. Speaking of quality, Mr. Duncan said that the premium enjoyed by New Zealand lamb over other imported lamb, if calculated on the whole output, would amount to a very considerable annual sum. Every endeavour must be made by farmers to see that this premium was maintained, or increased, especially as other countries were gradually improving their quality.

Increased Export Mr. Duncan gave the chilled export figures for 1935-36 as 144,169 quarters, and said that for the 1936-37 season it was estimated that they would reach approximately 200,000 quarters. He emphasised that there was room for improved quality, and it was imperative that cattle sent along to the works should be thoroughly finished off. The question of adequate facilities to' meet fully the requirements of this trade, having regard to future expansion, had been for some time engaging the attention of the board, which was in close touch with freezing companies, shipping companies and the Railways Department. With regard to pork, Mr. Duncan said it was pleasing to note that -the Department of Agriculture had introduced a national scheme for the development of the pig industry. Improvement of Baconers Porker pigs were particularly well thought of. on the Smithfield market; in fact, in the opinion of the trade, there was no better quality coming to that market There was room for the improvement of baconers and »the board was of tile opinion that the time was opportune for the standard of grading of baconers to be revised. The new freight contract, which commenced on September 1 last year for frozen and chilled meat and dairy produce, represented approximately a 2\ per cent increase converted into sterling, and payable in sterling in London

The chairman referred also to the imports allocation agreement recently entered into with the United Kingdom Government, to the United Kingdom treaty with Argentine and also to the active prosecution of the advertising campaign and research work.

The following producers' representatives were re-elected: —Sir William Perrv, Mr. J. D. Ormond, jun.; Mr. H. D. Acland.

THE BRITISH MARKET VIEWS OF HON. W. NASH [BV TKI;EGRArn —FRKSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Friday Only by improving, or at least maintaining, the quality of exported produce could New Zealand hope to extend her market in Great Britain, said the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, addressing the electoral committee of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board at a luncheon to-day. The only real avenue for expansion of New Zealand's meat export trade was in the United Kingdom. New Zealand meat had better publicity in Britain than that of any other country, said Mr. Nash, but if the commodity did not live up to the claims made for it, all the advertising in the world would not maintain sales. If the peak quality were kept up, however, lie was satisfied New Zealand would get the maximum market possible for any one country to obtain in Britain. The Dominion's beef, while not so good as its lamb, was improving. Argentine beef, however, looked better, owing to the shorter period of handling between killing and consumption. He believed it might be possible to put on the British market beef from smaller cattle so close in quality to the Argentine that it would realise id to Id a pound more than was being received at present.