THE MEAT BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3831, 16 August 1927, Page 17

THE MEAT BOARD.

ITS ACTIVITIES OUTLINED. WANGANUI, August 10. Mr T. A. Duncan, of Hunterville, met the Wanganui branch of the Farmers’ Union to-day, and gave an interesting explanation concerning' the activities of th© New Zealand Meat Board. The meat position, said Mr Duncan, was a big one. Since the board had been established, there had not been sufficient publicity given to its activities. The board’s meetings were not open to the press. The members of the board were competent men, and had the interests of the producer at heart. Their aim was to effect improvements to the trade, and the better handling facilities from New Zealand to London was one of the chief improvements that had been effected ’by the board, and meat was now landed under the best possible conditions. Mr Forsyth had the confidence of the trade at the other end. which was a big advantage. Better handling between the freezing works and Smithfield had resulted in lower insurance rates, which was a big boon, and reflected great credit on Hie Meat Board. The rates were less than half than when the board first commenced operations. The board had also helped in eliminating a number of speculators, and consequently there had been less fluctuation on the market. The board was also desirous of keeping costs down for the greated the reduction in costs the more the farmer got for his produce. A substantial reduction in freight had also. been obtained from the shipping companies, said Mr Duncan, in referring to pork. The speaker said the pork industry was a growing one, and a meeting had recently been held in Palmerston North asking for a subsidy on pork exported from New Zealand. The Meat Board had turned down the suggestion of a subsidy previously, where the price was beyond the cost of production. It was not a desirable proceeding, Mr Duncan said. The board had done everything to help the pork industry and encourage the export of pork.

Touching upon the question of beef, Mr Duncan said the position of beef was very serious. Argentina at the present time was suffering from an over-produc-tion of beef, and if a trade war commenced between the big companies in the Argentine, he did not think it would alter the position in New Zealand. He did not think there would be any chance of the PUS? New Zealand beef increasing while over-production ruled in the Argentine. &