NO BEEF EXPORT

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1933, Page 9

NO BEEF EXPORT

3=MONTHS PROHIBITION BRITISH GOVERNMENT DESIRE HUGE INCREASE RECENTLY CURTAILMENT EXPECTED BOARD SILENT MEANWHILE By Telegraph—Press Association. . Wellington, Last Night. Shipments of frozen beef to Britain will be drastically -curtailed during the next < three months. ' No .statement is being made in the meantime-by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board but it. is authoritatively; reported that .the; British Government has communicated through the board with the .shippers asking.■ if they are prepared to withhold beef shipments till the end of November. Mr. John Fraser, general manager of the board, says he is ; not in. a position to make a statement regarding the matter. Shipments of beef during the current season have been much heavier than in recent years. In the ten months ended July, 1933, the total shipments were 278.541 quarters, compared with 144,051 in the corresponding period last season. Nearly all went to Britain. The increase was

over 93 per cent. In addition 222,870 bags .of boneless beef were exported during the ten months, compared with 184,599 bags in the corresponding period last season.

Killings during the past fen months were 429,113 quarters, compared with 176,200 in the corresponding period, an increase of over 143: per: cent. At July 31; there were 164,532 quarters of 'frozen beef in cold stores, compared With 65,498 a year ago. Ships not: departed, at that date had aboard 18,197 quarters,? compared with 7498 a year ago. Lamb shipments forrthe ten: months totalled 7,929,613 carcases, ,an increase of 191,780. Mutton shipments at 1,651,693 carcases showed’.a "decrease of' 700,208. Pork at 196,312 carcases showed -ah increase of 77,937.

PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS.

CO-OPERATION OF EXPORTERS.

Inquiries made in Auckland reveal that the New Zealand Meat Producers Board has been in touch with exporters since the beginning of August >and an agreement has .been reached not to ship any quarters of beef until the end of November. Exporters may continue to buy prime beef and it will be killed on their account, but it will be stored until the period of. total restriction lapses. It is understood the board pointed out to exporters that the British Government asked for voluntary action and exporters, have expressed their, willingness to hold back shipments. The agreement applies only, to the export of beef quarters, prime ox: and cow. Further shipments, of boneless beef will be made. “It is in our own interests as well as in the. interests of British agriculture that we have agreed to'the temporary cessation of beef shipments,” said an exporter yesterday. “We ave no wish to antagonise the British Government and it must be recognised that mutton and lamb, our chief meat exports, are not affected. In comparison with these, the beef trade is of minor importance.” . .. It was pointed but, that the export of beef quarters during the season 1932-33 to date had far exceeded the’ estimate supplied to the British Government by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. It was estimated by Mr. Coates that the total shipments for the season would be limited to 22,000 tons, but for th j 10 months of the season to the end of July that figure had been .reached. The exports of beef quarters during the October-July period showed an advance of 95 per cent, on those for the same period of 1931-32. The effect of the agreement will be to throw all prime 'beef on to the local, .market, but it is not anticipated there ■will be a very’ large supply offering. There is' generally a shortage of prime cattle at the present time of the year, but so far this has not been reflected in prices at the weekly Westfield sales. The local beef market has been exceptionally dull, in comparison with the active market for sheep. • . It is presumed a system of “spread” shipment of beef will be arranged when exports are resumed in December, otherwise a rush of supplies to the British market will offset the advantages of restriction. Stocks of beef held in New Zealand at July 31 were heavy in comparison with those at the same date last year. They comprised 164,532 quarters, as against 65,498 quarters last year. A large proportion of the stocks is held in Auckland,. Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay. Stocks' loaded into vessels not departed from New Zealand on July 31. totalled 18,197 quarters, compared with 7498 quarters in the previous year. Last year the total, killings during the period August to November inclusive totalled 13,576 quarters-and 79,322 quarters were exported dining the period..