LONDON MEAT MARKET

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1926, Page 9

LONDON MEAT MARKET

REQUIREMENTS NAMED REPORT TO AUSTRALIA SOME HINTS TO PRODUCERS By Teleffraph—Ptcm Assn.—Copyright. Received Dee. 15, 5.5 p.m. London, Dee. 14. As the result of a day spent in the investigation of the Smithfield market, Mr. Gepp, Australian Commissioner for Immigration and Development, and Mr. Manning, M.H.R., have prepared a report which should be very useful. to Australian producers. They found that Argentice cattle marketed were between 17 and 24 months younger, and better in quality than the Australian, which, though often of high quality, varied to such an extent as to keep down the average, and its prices were usually a penny below the Argentine. Indications are that it would not be payable to chill crops and it would be better to try hindquarters, but they question whether that would be more profitable than frozen, for which there is a strong demand in the provinces. Assuming chilled meat brought a penny a pounl more, it would mean £1,250,000 more on half a million head, but the extra eost of chillirtg, freight, and insurance against losses would have to be deducted. They point out that high-class bred beef does not bring more on the Australian market, the reason for which should be ascertainable by a general inquiry into the whole economies of the industry, including better feeding, seasonal influences, regularity' of supplies and methods of transport. The report emphasises the popularity of smaller lambs, also the over-heavi-ness of mutton. There was a need for quick maturing lamb, produced by a Southdown ram and Romney ewe, and for mutton by a Suffolk-Romney cross. Study is necessary in order to reduce the disparity in the quality of Australian and Canterbury lambs.