ARGENTINE MEAT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16836, 27 December 1928, Page 8

ARGENTINE MEAT

REDUCTION OF EXPORTS UNITED STATES AS A MARKET LONDON. Nov. 2. In the course of his speech al the annual meeting of lhe Smithfield and Argentine Meat Co., Sir James Gain! (chairman) said that the aftermath of the meat war—like that of the Great War took mueh longer to settle than was expected. The year 1928 opened in the Argentine with a shortage of fat cattle, and with prims 25 per cent, higher than the previous year. The additional cost reacted on lhe demand in the United Kingdom and the Continent. Germany in March last degreed a reduction ol free imports of meat from 102,000 tons to £O,OOO tons per annum, and other Continental countries, m view of their finances, were doing their utmost to spend as little money outside their boundaries. Italy, which had become a good customer sim e the war. took little this year from Argentina. In consequence uf all these shortages the output from the Argentine meat works* has been much reduced.

To give some idea of the general reduction, the latest figures to the end of August showed that only 4.508,779 quarters of chilled and frozen beef had been shipped this year from Argentina, against 5,881.405 quarters at the same date last year, a difference of 1.573,626 quarters —or, say 27 per cent. less. Mutton and lamb shipment also decreased, but not to such a great extent. The total shilaments from Argentina last year to the Continent totalled 265,736 tons. This year to Hie end of August the shipments were only 73.613 tons. Output to the company meant everything. A small output meant a greater cost product ion, as the overhead expenses so heavy in a meat works had thereby to he spread over a smaller poundage.

A NEW MARKET “A new factor is looming on the horizon,” said ''the chairman, “which—when it eventuates—as it will sooner or later—will have a far-reaching effect on Argentina and her present customers. I allude to the generally anticipated advent of America into the Argentine ior additions to her meal supplies. Signs of America’s meat shortage are becoming increasingly evident. At present she bars Argentine frozen and chilled meat, Imt she is taking considerable and increasing quantities of' canned moat from there and the neighboring countries. In 1925 she took 10,000,0001 b. weight of canned meat. To the end of September this year she had taken 40.0C0,0001b. weight of canned meats, and has still three mouths’ supplies to lift. ' “In 1926-27 America took from New Zealand 400 tons of frozen meat. This last 12 months—say up to the year ended September 30, 1928, she took 13,500 tons —principally heel. She also draws supplies of meat from Canada. Prices of meat in America are steadily rising. In Chicago, wholesale prices for sides of beef have risen steadily over this year, from lid per pound in April to over per pound in September. Looking to difficulties of transport and feed mg, prices will likely rise still higher in the winter months.' In Smitlificld the average weekly price of chilled sides over the same period was under 6d per pound. It is worthy of special note that, owing entirely to our importation of beef from Argentina, the British working man obtains his. prized beef ration at less than half the cost of the American worker. “The population of America totals over 100.000,000, and is increasing at the rate of 2.CC0.000 per annum, which emphasises her present need of further meat supplies. ■•To the reflective man it is a question to he pondered over, whether we shall not have io revise in the near 1-iiture our present ideas of meat values, j fear myself the vc.irs are not far distant when we shall look hack with amazement at the prices now ruling.’ Otago Times.