THE LAMB EXPORT TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1931, Page 6

THE LAMB EXPORT TRADE.

The fact that the Dominion’s export trade in frozen lamb is to become the subject of highly organised research affords an interesting commentary upon the stress of primary production under modern conditions. Although this country has been engaged in the meat export business for just on half a century, it is evident that those principally concerned still have something to learn. Methods that were startlingly new 50 years ago, and appeared to be remarkably adequate, have had to give way before the march of new ideas, and both in the growing of meat and the processes of freezing and handling, the industry has made great strides. Yet when the Prime Minister of New Zealand visited the Smithfield market a month or two ago he saw enough to convince him that there are still problems which the Dominion must solve. What is said to have impressed Mr. Forbes particularly is the variability of the lamb carcases sent Home from the Dominion, and the object of the work now to be undertaken on his recommendation is the elimination of this feature. It is proposed that lines of crossbred lambs of known breeding shall be slaughtered under special conditions and the careases shall be subject to special inspection at Smithfield. By this means it is hoped to ascertain exactly what type of lamb will best suit the needs of the market and also be least likely to deteriorate in quality during transport. Years ago, of course, such very careful watching of the nature and quality of the Dominion’s output was quite unnecessary, since Britain’s sources of supply were limited and competition was more or less negligible. Nowadays other countries are becoming increasingly strong rivals ibf New Zealand in the British market, the South American producers especially being assisted by their .omparative nearness to London. In the lamb trade, just as in other export services, this country must rely entirely upon the quality of its produce to ensure success against its. competitors. The exported commodity must satisfy the consumer’s taste and it must be uniform in quality. Unfortunately the meat growers, like the wool growers and the dairy farmers, have had of late to accept comparatively low prices for their produce. It is, however, the General opinion that the market has reached bedrock and that the producers can safely expect more stable conditions. It is necessary for the industry to readjust its costs, but that process will not interfere with its efforts to assure the quality of its output, upon which its prosperous existence is finally dependent.