MEAT IMPORTS DECLINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22084, 14 October 1933, Page 3

MEAT IMPORTS DECLINE

STILL FURTHER REDUCTIONS THE MINISTER’S PLANS. (Feom Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON, August 18. A decrease of 21,700 tons iu the moat imports of Great Britain in the first half of the current year is announced by Major Elliot, the Minister of Agriculture. This can he followed by a further reduction in the fiual six months. The announcement is made by the Minister of Agriculture in the following statement on the meat situation: — The arrangements for the regulation of meat imports resulted in a reduction in foreign supplies of chilled aud frozen beef, and frozen mutton and lamb, of some 21,700 tons in the first six months of the year, compared with the first half of 1932. Of this amount, chilled beef accounted for some 13,700 tons. In the second half of this year imports will be further reduced. As regards chilled beef, it has already been announced that in the first half of the present quarter imports will be 10 per cent, loss than the quantities agreed at Ottawa and 12i per cent, less during the second half of the quarter. It is now announced that for the first half of the last quarter of theyear the Minister is aiming at a reduction of 15 per cent., or as near thereto as is compatible with the economical use of the shipping space available. As regards frozen beef, imports from foreign sources will bo progressively reduced by 20 per cent, in the present quarter and 25 per cent, in the next quarter below the standard year figures. It is expected that New Zealand will ship no frozen beef at all in the last quarter of this year, while Australian shipments arc expected to be smaller than a year ago. The effect of these further reductions in imports should be to strengthen the beef market appreciably in the coming months and induce a sounder price situation.

As regards mutton and lamb, the prospects of better markets are also fair. Imports of foreign frozen mutton and lamb will he subject to the Ottawa reductions of 20 per cent, in the current quarter and 25 per cent, next quarter. As a result, supplies of mutton and lamb from foreign countries will be reduced in the second half of the year by some 3000 tons compared with the period July to December, 1932.

Killings in Now Zealand show a reduction of some 12,000 tons compared with last year, while it is estimated that holdings In cold store will be less than those of last year by about 300,000 carcasses of lamb and 400,000 carcasses of mutton, Australian supplies are also expected to be smaller In the latter half of the year.