LAMB EXPORT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 19

LAMB EXPORT TRADE.

NO THIRD GRADE. Whether or not lamb of an inferior quality, known generally as “ third grade,’’ should be exported from New Zealand was an important question discussed on Thursday at the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board.'' Two delegates from Hawke’s Bay, Mr J. H. Joll and Mr A. V. S. Reed, expressed themselves as being in favour of shipping this class of lamb during certain months of the year, but the chairman, Mr D. Jones. M.P., said it was the policy of the board to throw out all third-grade carcasses and refuse to allow them to be exported. In commenting' on the annual report and balance sheet, which were carried unanimously, Mr J. H. Joll, Havelock North, said that it was extremely gratifying to know that meat exports were once more up For the, first time the South Island had beaten the North in the export _of lamb. This was especially gratifying, as the prices of lamb were on the increase. It was a fine thing that New Zealand could lead the world in the quality of the lamb produced. Mr Joll mentioned that he had met a man recently who had received a cablegram from Liverpool asking for 7000 third-grade lambs. The question was whether they should supply those people with what they wanted, he said. The prices at Home would not allow all people to buy first grades. He thought that they should give them what they wanted at Home, but not identify lower grades too closely with New Zealand goods. “ Are these people going to set ■what they can buy, or have nothing? "Will you say, ‘We will supply what we have, not what you require ’? These are the points that have to be settled,” he said.

Mr A. V. S. Reed, Napier, said he wanted to emphasise the points mentioned by Mr Joll. There seemed to be a great misunderstanding on the part of the board in regard to third-grade lamb. It was found in 1901, he said, that there was a definite market for lean meat at Home —the leaner it was the more it would be appreciated. -That there was a demand for it was borne out this year by the fact that per pound it brought an exactly equivalent price to that got for first grades. He appreciated the board's

efforts to maintain the standard of first and second grades, but as far as the East Coast was concerned there was a season when it was essential to sell meat that would not be graded first or second class. They could not fatten such lambs, and they had to be got away. There was a demand for that class of meat, and it was shipped c.i.f. —and it did not get to Smithfield, either. He thought that the board’s attitude had been wrong. He did not think that they had gone fully enough into the question. The fact that they were selling third-grade lamb would not affect their higher grades. He was not suggesting that the higher grades should be interfered with, but the board should consider first of all that, it must give more elasticity in dealing with third, class lamb. The board must help those who were producing that grade of meat. He knew also that third-grade lambs had been shipped from Canterbury this and other years. Mr Jones: It is not correct. The chairman said the board's standard was the same, but there was a desire in Canterbury to ship third-grade lamb. The board absolutely refused to allow them to be shipped. Both of the speakers were desirous that third-grade should not go as New Zealand meat. All the carcasses would have the New Zealand grading stamp on them, and when they got to England would be sold as prime New Zealand lamb.

Mr Jones referred to the experience. of Australia in 1928, when the export of third-grade lamb destroyed her trade. The board had not made the decision hurriedly, but had looked at it from every possible angle. Immediately they got below the board's standard they got an emaciated lamb. The board was handling a tremendous amount of lamb, tmd the matter could not be treated lightly; They had to remember that no man present, if he was a member of the board, would do otherwise. Experts at home had declared against shipping third-grade lamb. Mr Reed said that Mr Jones's statement that no third class lambs were being shipped was quite incorrect. They could call them light .seconds, or what they liked, but they were nevertheless third grades. If they turned down this market they were leaving open a very lucrative trade to other countries. They had to recognise third-grade lamb, and the board shot.ld help the farmers with the question. Mr'T. A. Duncan said when it came to the question of buying poor lambs at the end of the season and sending them Home, would Mr Recd favour that? Mr Reed said it was essential at certain seasons to ship this third-class lamb. They could call it what they liked. .Mr G. A. Macdonald (Canterbury) said it was very serious for his province that inferior lambs should be sent from other parts of the country damaging the high reputation of Canterbury lamb. By sending out lower grades, the board would deliberately take away the profits from those who were engaged in fattening. Mr L. R. C. Macfarlane (Canterbury) said the tendency in the future would be for more third-grade lambs to be exported. If this happened there would be no more incentive for breeders to have first-grade ewes. He congratulated the boanj on reducing its levy and expenses, wliich was a fine example to everyone.

Mr W. Perry (Masterton) asked if anyone present had seen the carcasses that had been thrown out. 'They were emaciated carcasses, , and he thought that perhaps the second grade now was even too low. The people at Home knew the grades, and bought accordingly. He was sllre l3^ la f if. they saw the rejects they would not raise a voice against what was being done.

Mr K- M- Morton (Canterbury) said , Zealand had built up her reputation by prime Canterbury lamb, and they could not afford to let the Dominion suffer because a few farmers wlio had no fattening land wanted to sell inferior lamb, f could not afford to slacken up at all. , Mr T. Currie (Brunswick) said it might be possible to let farmers see the reject lambs at the freezing works, and then they would never wish to sec third grades exported. If they did export them, it would be ‘‘ the end of the section.” Mr Reed said the export of third grades was a matter which the board could learn a good deal more about. There was a demand at Home during certain months for third grades, and they had had to get rid of this type of lamb. He had reason t o know that lambs that had been rejected by the grader had been sent Home, not only from the East Coast, but from Canterbury.

The chairman said Mr Reed did not know what a third-grade reject was. He wanted to get below the grade that was being shipped away, and as far as the board knew no third-grade lambs had been shipped. He suggested that Mr Reed should have a look at the rejects. Jlr J. S. Jessop said he wished to clear up a misconception over the use of terms 1 irst of all theii' graders had nothing to do with what had been termed an " emaciated ” lamb, as it was automatically rejected by the veterinary surgeon. Second, lambs sold to the London market were not quoted as “ firsts ” or “ seconds ” —those were their own terms. They bought by brands, which were distinguished by weight, shape, and selection.

. Mr J. D. Revie. Crookston, had a feeling to-day that they were perhaps exporting lamb they should not be. It appeared also that lamb which was not exported was not fit for human consumption. The chairman: There has been no alteration in the grading. Mr Reed said he was in favour of maintaining the standard of first grades, but occasion arose he wanted facilities for exporting lamb that would pass the veterinary surgeon.