CATTLE INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18041, 18 March 1933, Page 13

CATTLE INDUSTRY

CHILLED BEEF SHIPMENTS MARKET IN ENGLAND PROSPECTS FOR DOMINION A heartening outlook on the future of the Dominion’s cattle industry, particularly through the possibilities of an export trade in chilled beef, was taken at a meeting of the Wairarapa provincial executive of the Fanners’ Union. The rise in prices due to the increased exchange ana the benefit of the quota system were pointed to as encouraging signs. Also the announcement made at the meeting that the experimental shipment of chilled beef on the Port Fairy had arrived in good order was regarded hi the same light, The question was raised by a letter from the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board in reply to criticism by the texecutivo of lack of activity in drilled beef research. The board pointed out that it was co-operating with T. Bortbwick and Sons, Limited, in the recent experimental shipment, and that it had undertaken, in the event of any loss, to bear half the loss to a maximum liability of £SOO. Sir William Perry, a member of the board, stated that the board had also arranged with the Railway Department to secure the right typo of trucks to convey the meat to Wellington, and had seen that only the best meat should, be shipped. He mentioned that Borthwicks had been most careful in this respect. GOOD BEEF FOR FUTURE Sir William said that he had had advice that the meat had arrived in quite good order. There was no doubt the successful chilling of meat would open up a.n'ew field for beef in Now Zealand. This shipment was going on a very weak market, but the point was not what the beef fetched, but that it had been carried Home successfully. The big quesion now, he addad, was to set to work and produce good young beef for the future. , i' , I; . With the , exchange - and Hojne quota in operation, said Sir William, mor.e ox beef was boing killed to-day than had been for some years. He believed one firm had an Army contract, which would make a difference. The price to-day made it worth,while to .put cattle, in the works and the killing had increased tremendously since this ,t\me last year. In 1952 there was a- very small, export trade; in fact, in the winter months it had hardly been possible to give beef away. This year it would be very much different. , -

Mr. H. Morrison: The locgl works are going at top. Sir William Perry: That is going on in other parts, too. EFFECT OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Pointing out that there was a tendency to control imports into the Old Country and that at the present time Npw Zealand was being specially favored by the limitation of Argentine meat, Mr. J. 0. Cooper said that farmers must bear in mind that in England at present were about 3,000,000 unemployed. When conditions got back to normal there would be a big demand for meat, and beef always took first place. New Zealand must bej prepared to supply that demand or else the Argentine or someone else would step in. He, suggested that ttie Meat Producers’ Board should take the matter up and inform farmers exactly the type and age of the cattle required and the methods of . feeding, because he could see there was a big advantage ahead and farmers should get busy* Another point, said Mr. Cooper, was the control of shipments. The board had the power to control shipments, but lie believed the difficulties of doing so were almost unsurmountable. He felt, though, that the hoard could asms! farmers more .than it was doing by giving full information as to wh,at was going on so that the farmer could plan, his business ahead. ARGENTINA’S POSITION , “I don’t know whether you know there is no compulsory quota, on chilled, beef from Argentina,” observed Sir William Perry. The Argentine had; agreed with the British Government to

cut down exports by 10 per cent, for two months, he said, but the British Govenunent at -Ottawa would not agreo to a compulsory quota- This might affect New, Zealand’s tr ade in “died beet. Argentine exports of frozen beef, however, were cut down. As far as supplying information to farmers was concerned, said Sir William, the Board was in a difficult position—it could not prophesy. Recent reports, he added, indicated that the main point at Home was want of confidence. They were afraid to buy ahead. It was hoped that the action the Meat Board was taking would give that confidence and raise the prices. On the motion of Mr. J. C._ Cooper the meeting unanimously carried the following resolution: “That the Meat Producers’ Board bo asked to keep growers fully informed as to the requirements of the Home meat trade and as to how local growers were to best meet requirements, also to supply the fullest information regarding the type of cattle to grow for chilled beef export, the nrost suitable type of feeding to achieve tfie best results, and the fullest possible details of costs.” ,