BEEF AND MUTTON.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16497, 1 August 1924, Page 9

BEEF AND MUTTON.

HAWKE’S BAY FREEZING WORKS,

Killing has now ceased at all Hawke’s Bay •freezing works except Borthwicks’, Ltd., at Paid Paid, where small lots'are still being, slaughtered. Tomoana and Whakatu, however, have now closed down for the season and a review of their extensive operations reveals that the position of the meat trade in Hawke's Bay can be regarded as entirely satisfactory (states the Tribune). Whakatu, as a, matter of fact, has had probably its biggest season since the inception of tho works, and its output ; s said to have equalled, if not to have exceeded, that of any other works in the Dominion.

■The Tomoana works, on the other hand, have been possibly a. shade less active than usual, largely owing to the big' constructional works—the early stages of an, extensive three years’ programme—now going ahead there. Of interest during^the season has been tho large number of lambs slaughtered, though the general quality, because of the dry spell in the summer, has hardly been up to the usual standard. More than the usual quantities of old ewes, it is also stated, have come forward, and this, regarded as a good thing, is accounted for by the large carry-over of breeding ewes from the previous season. Prices for muttihi have been well maintained, and l it is said that to the producer the past season must rank as a distinct improvement on onei or two of the' periods preceding. As for the beef market, Hawke’s Bay authorities state, that it has not improved. A fair amount has keen killed for export, blit on the Home markets only secondary prices have been paid, the competition with the Argentine chilled beef (the carcases, in general, of younger and better-conditioned animals) resulting to the disadvantage of the New Zealand product. Consequently farmers in the Dominion are discouraged from beef, and those controlling the freezing works are wondering where the stock to maintain the future output is going to come from.