PERISHABLE GOODS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1927, Page 12

PERISHABLE GOODS

BRITAIN’S IMPORTS. NIiVV ZEALAND'S SHARE. <■ (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, April 4. New Zealand's contribution of perishable and other products to the imports of the United Kingdom ire often exaggerated in speech and writing so that many people have lost all sense of proportion in respect to the matter. New Zealand is often spoken of as the dairy farm of the Empire, giving one the impression that the British people are entirely dependent upon New Zealand for dairy produce. The British Board of Trade returns for 19’26 give a clear indication of the actual figures of the supplies obtained from different countries. The wool imported into the United Kingdom during the year amounted to 815,633.000,000 lbs, and of this quantity New' Zealand furnished 184,238,0001 b, equal to 22% per cent, of the total, while Australia contributed 304,554,0001b5, and stood first on the list with New Zealand second. The total weight of mutton and lamb received into the United Kingdom in T 926 was 5,370,136ewt., of which New Zealand contributed 2,680,992 cwt .( or about 50 per cent, of the total, and maintained first position. The imports of beef aggregated 13,306,575 cwt., and New Zealand's proportion was only 540,S2Bewt., equal to a little more than four per cent., while the Argentine supplied 10,404,704 cwt., Australia 1,148.978cwt., ami Uruguay !>G4,3’29cwt. South America controls the British meat market, for Argentine and Uruguay supply over 1 1,300,000 cwt. of b.<f, which la the food of the masses

The imports of frozen rabbits into the United Kingdom last year was 191,ZlMcwt., towards which Australia contributed 178,778 cwt. and New Zealand 1’2,431cwt. The imports of butter into Britain in 1926 aggregated 5,819,625 cwt; of this New Zealand furnished 1,153,896ewt., and Denmark 1,906,496ewt., New Zealand’s proportion being 20 per cent, and the Danish 28 per cent. Australia contributed 752,088 cwt., and Argentine 513,697 cwt. Supplying only 20 per cent, of British imported butter, there was little chance of price-fixing succeeding. With respect to cheese New Zealand holds first place, for out of a total of 3,013,303 cwt. imported, New Zealand contributed 1,49i,471cwt., and Canada 1,055,092 cwt. Australia’s contribution was only 46,985 cwt. In respect to tallow New Zealand a's? occupied first place, for out of total imports of 46,778 tons New Zealand supplied 17,546 tons, or about 38 per cent, of the total. In sheepskins with -wool we make a poor showing, for out of a iUztl of 509,886 cwt. 6ur share was only 41.088cwt., or about 8 per cent. In respect to pelts, that is slimpskins without wool, out of a total number of 2,518,757, New Zealand furnished 1,075.826, or about 37 per cent. With respect to hemp we stand a long way behind Manila, for out of total imports of 77,910 tons, Manila comprised 40,829 tons, and New Zealand 7481 tons, or about 9% per cent. A study of the figures would g<>o u» all a better sense of proportion, and prevent us making foolish statements about our importance in the uade of the United Kingdom. THE PRODUCE -MARKETS. The butter market is reported to be steady, ruling at 152 s to 1545. The market appears to have been steadied by purchases made by the United .states and Canada. Danish is quoted at 180 s, and this makes the margin between New Zealand and Danish butter very wide indeed, but that has been a feature of f-ho current season. The Danes recently decided on marking the outside of the casks with the date of manufacture, and it .would be interesting to know whether this had any material effect on the prices. New Zealand cheese is selling at 77s to 7Ss, which is very low. The frozen meat market continuies dull and lamb prices are very low. Prime Canterbury lamb is selling' at 9% per lb, and first quality light-weight North Island lamb at B%d. The market is weak, and the demand limited. The mutton market is also weaker, the demand running on light weights. Prime Canterbury mutton is quoted at 6)d and first grade North Island at 6<l. It is impossible for lamb and mutton to make higher prices while South American chilled beef is selling at 2%d for fores and 44d for hinds. These are extremely low prices for good beef, and must be proving very attractive to the masses. The tallow market appears steady, but the demand does look fairly strong as out of an offering of 1187 casks 930 were sold. ’