MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20323, 3 February 1928, Page 12

MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD.

MR R. S. FORSYTH’S VISIT TO AMERICA. POSSIBILITIES OF TRADE. (Feom Oob Own Coebesfondent. ) LONDON, December 24. Mr R. S. Forsyth (London manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board) has returned from an extensive business tour in America, during which he visited New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. He was very courteously received by all the leading men in the American meat trade, who gave him every opportunity of making a thorough study of the trade from the point of view of packing, storing, wholesale marketing, and wholesale and retail distribution.

“ Although there is a good opening for meat in the United States,” said Mr Forsyth, “ it is largely nullified by the duties imposed on imported meat. On lamb 2d a lb is charged, on mutton lid, and on beef lid per lb. The beef supply in America is shorter than ever before, and wholesale prices have reached a record figure—ls to Is 2d per lb. This shortage is attributed to the lower prices of the last two years having caused restraint in breeding. In addition, the States have prohibited the import of meat from any country suffering from stock diseases. This means that the only countries in the world that may send meat to America are Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.”

Mr Forsyth went on to say that the people of the States have a preference lor home-killed fresh beef. There is a much greater prejudice there against frozen meat than in Great Britain. Canada is able to supply fresh meat. It is noticeable that live cattle have ceased to arrive at Liverpool from Canada during the past nine months. The supply has obviously been diverted to the United States.

“ The United States,” said Mr Forsyth, “is increasing her population so fast, and at a greater rate than her agricultural production, that it looks as if she ■will in the years to come have to turn to other parts of the world for at least a portion of her requirements in meat. It looks as if we shall get a fair quantity of beef into the States, which, under present conditions with the over-supply in British and European markets, wifi be rather a godsend to New Zealand. The frozen beef is not used to any extent by the retailers, however. They use it for the shipping trade, for institutions, and for a small part of the poor meat trade.” Mr Forsyth spent some time in Chicago, where 56,000 of the inhabitants are engaged in the meat packing industry. Ha was well entertained, and had the opportunity of going over some of the great meat works. He arrived at the time of, and, attended, the Chicago live stock show, one of the largest shows of its kind in the world. The Canadian live tock show was in progress when he was at Toronto, and at both these shows he met people interested in the trade from all parts of America. Although Canada is able to export meat she nevertheless can take a rmalt quantity of lamb from other countries between seasons.

Mr Forsyth will be making a full report of his tour to his board.