EXPORTS OF BEEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1932, Page 4

EXPORTS OF BEEF.

Even the preliminary discussions at Ottawa have made it evident that if the Dominions are to recover the beef market of Great Britain they will have to alter the methods which were satisfactory in pre-war days. It was the advent of the chilling process which first gave Argentina the advantage over New Zealand and Australia. With a journey of three weeks as compared with one of two months from New Zealand the chilling process is easier to apply, and the chilled commodity is now preferred by the consumer in the United Kingdom. In addition, the Argentine exporters have done their best to supply the type of carcase required, and with some success. Whatever assistance New Zealand can obtain from better fiscal arrangements with Great Britain will not be sufficient to restore the trade in exports of beef unless, the consumer can obtain the commodity he desires. It is satisfactory to note that •this is being realised and that ments in chilling are being conducted on behalf of the Dominion and the Commonwealth of Australia. Latest advices from Great Britain state that the public demand for “baby beef,” namely, carcases of young animals quickly fattened for slaughter, is diminishing, and there is a desire now for the more mature type of beef. This is a matter upon which the Meat Board should be able to advise New Zealand stock-own-ners and to recommend the type of carcase that will suit the market. In the long run it is the consumer who decides whether exports from New Zealand are worth wliile. It is necessary therefore to'study his wishes to the full. To obtain all the aid possible from wise fiscal arrangements is an excellent beginning, but only the beginning, of a recovery of the beef export trade. It must be accompanied with scientific re- | search enabling Dominion exporters to meet competitors on level terms, and with practical work by stock breeders on well defined lines in order that the right type of carcase may be shipped. The sodner efforts in both directions begin the sooner be possible.