MEAT EXPORT-TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1930, Page 7

MEAT EXPORT-TRADE

WEW PRODUCTION RECORD " MORE SAVINGS IN FREIGHT. THE importance of quality. ’Tn reviewing the season which is just closing, it is now evident that the ■ quantity of stock treated at the various freezing works will constitute ft racord, in spite of the fact that the climatic conditions in some districts wei e • not very favourable,” states the eighth /■ annual report of the New Zealand Meal Producers’ Board. The report deals comprehensively with all aspects of the board’s work, including comment upon the regulation of shipments, the completion of a new contract which is estimated to save producers an additional £50,000 in freights on each of the next • three seasons,' the widening of markets ' by judicious advertising and, in conjunction witk- the Empire Marketing Board, the development of Empire trade. In addition, there are lengthy accounts ■ dealing with the research and expen- . mental work conducted under the auspices of the board. In a survey of the season up to June 30 last the board’s report states that . owing to a late spring in the North Island sheep and lambs were .not so forward in condition, resulting in .killings in the early part of the season bein? less than for the same period last year. That was unfortunate, living re- . gard to the small stocks ot both mut- • ton and lamb being held in Great Britain. The average weights of wethers, ewes and lambs were slightly lower than those bf the two preceding seasons. PAST TWO YEARS COMPARED. The value of the Dominion’s sheep and cattle industry; as measured by the export statistics (f.o.b. values) for the ■ 12 months nded March, together ( with . the corresponding figures for last year,

Wool sold over the whole Dominion in respect of the November-April ros- • ter of sales averaged 8.59 d a lb, compared with 14.99 d a lb last season, and 16.89 d a lb in the 1927-28 season. New Zealand was Britain’s largest supplier of mutton and lamb and the British import figures since refrigeration was first applied to ocean transport Showed that New Zealand had shipped almost as many mutton and lamb carcases to Britain as had the rest of the world. The expanding production of South America, however, was noteworthy. In 1914 that country exported 837,903 lambs to .the United. Kingdom, while last year 4,333,241 lambs were exported from South America, an advance of 902,586 over the previous year. ■ PREMIER POSITION OF LAMB. In anticipation of greater killing of ' sheep and lambs during the season, the ' board, in its work of regulating shipments, had exercised the greatest care to ensure that sufficient shipping tonnage was available to meet require- ’ inents. Owing to the abnormal killing experienced, many freezing works had • been concerned at periods regarding con- • g'estion of their storage chambers. The board had been continually , in - touch ‘ with the position and vtuth the co-op-eration of the shipping companies suffi- - cient relief was given to enable all works to carry on. In order to develop '■ trade with the West Coast ports of the - United Kingdom further, the board had arranged with the shipping companies - for an extended service which should • enlarge the channels of distribution. 1 - 1 “It is pleasing to note that our lamb • still retains its premier position," con- • . tinues the report. “We must recognise, . ho we ver, .that other countries exporting to the United, Kingdom are advancing • in quality and it cannot be too often urged that every farmer should assidu- ■ ously .guard the high reputation which this Dominion possesses in respect of • the .quality of her meat exported. Quality, as desired for the Home trade, is not measured in terms of weight, and lamb carcases should not carry undue waste fat." The importance of careful ’• handling of, stock was also emphasised. . SAVING TN FREIGHTS. 0 In commenting upon the necessity for ' reducing stocks owing to the low values ruling for primary produce, the report stated that the board had how accepted a new contract with the shipping companies in London at a reduction of a further 2j per cent., which brought the new rates down 15 .per cent, off the rates obtaining for the 1924-25 season. The period of the' contract was three years and. the 2| per cent, reduction represented a further saving to the meat producers of the Dominion of approximately £50,000 a season. 'Since its formation in 1922 the reductions obtained by the board in the ■ various ■’ freight contracts negotiated amounted to £1,059,000 a season, made up as follows: —1922-23 contract, £575,000; 1923-24 contract, £164,000; '1924-27 contract, £120,000; 1927-30 contract, £150,000; 1930-33 contract, £50,000; total £1,059,000. SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION. In addition to extensive advertising, the board had also provided a connecting link between the retail shops and its London office and had recently engaged a travelling representative whose .duties largely consisted of visiting meat retailers throughout the United Kingdom with a view to extending New Zealand trade. After referring to the visit to New Zealand toward the end of 1929 of the scientific delegation headed by Dr.-Ezer Griffiths, of the national physical laboratory, Teddington, to investigate refrigeration and the carriage of New Zealand meat, the report states that the report of those scientists, who had been closely associated with the Scientific and Industrial Research Department in New Zealand, would be the most comprehensive survey that had yet been undertaken. The board was also closely watching the development and possibilities of quick freezing in the United States and had recently received a sample shipment from its agent in New York." - In reference to, the pork industry, it wr>s stated' that 1 Qie freight rate, on . pork ‘would’’ be further reduced by 2j

per cent.' under the new -shipping, contract. . The rate would now be ;922d a lb less than when the board was constituted in 1922, representing a saving of 9s 2d on a 1201 b pig. There was no doubt that the outlet for New Zealand pork was gradually widening and it was becoming favourably established on the Smithfield market. During the last few years the board had made several trial shipments of meat to the United States and the export of meat to that country had prospects of developing. The estimated annual value had reached approximately £500,000 and was proving of great benefit to meat producers of the Dominion, especially those raising beef. The new United States tariff, however, .would practically nullify the board's efforts to develop that market as an outlet for New Zealand beef.

is as follows; — 1928-29 1929-30 ' £ £ ■ Wool 15,576,291 10,610,979 Frozen meat 10,509,650 10,501,755 Hides & skins .. 3,111,169 2,386,540 Other by-producta 1,613,032 1,418,217 Total ....... 30,810,142 24,917,491