MEAT MARKET

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19329, 2 November 1932, Page 9

MEAT MARKET

SMALL CARCASES WANTED. NEW ZEALAND REPUTATION HIGH. ‘ When I left London the best lamb was selling at sid a pound, and I received a wireless message a day or two ago stating that the price had dropped to 4id for best down to 3id for seconds,” said Mr G. H. Michie, of Michie and White, Ltd., produce merchants, Smithfield, who arrived by the Rangitiki from London. “We had a rise in price when the season opened last year/’ he continued. “but there was a crash when heavy shipments from Australia started to arrive.” Questioned about the effect of the Ottawa Conference and about the reported glut on the Home markets at the present time, Mr Michie said that he was not conversant with events since he had left England. As far as Ottawa was concerned, during the conference and until the time he left nothing had been made known in Brtiain as to the decisions, publication being withheld until Parliament considered the agreements. “My opinion is,” he said, “that if Great Britain retricts importations from Patagonia and Argentina it will be to the benefit of New Zealand. Supplies in the aggregate would automatically be smaller, and provided the demand was normal the effect would be favourable to Australia and New Zealand. Of course, it must be remembered that we are dealing with a perishable product that cannot be kept for an indefinite period. New Zealand Production. “If New Zealand goes on increasing her production as she has done during the last two or three years the tendency must be to reduce prices. Industrial England has been having a bad time, and the housewife has only a limited amount to spend on a joint, perhaps 2/- or 2/6, and for that reason the small carcase is a good proposition for the retail butcher. Argentine lambs weighing 141 b to 161 b have been tried out recently with good results from the selling angle, but they have been mostly skin and bone. We get a certain quantity of lambs from New Zealand weighing about 261 b, and I am strongly of opinion that this type of carcase should be sent forward in larger numbers, for the reason that smaller joints may be cut up to suit the pockets of the working classes. It must not be on the Argentine principle, however ,and exporters must do nothing that will injure in any way New Zealand’s great reputation for quality. “There has been talk in recent times, both by importers and the New Zealand Meat Control Board, of introducing third class quality lamb, and I think this is a mistake, as the retailers will sell is as ‘prime New Zealand,’ for the simple reason that New Zealand lamb stands so high in popular favour. The selling of third grade would therefore spoil the Dominion's fair name for lamb.” Increased Imports. To illustrate his views in respect to supplies, Mr Michie stated that in 1914 there was a total importation into Great Britain from all countries of 8,000,000 lamb carcases. In 1931 the figure had grown to 17,000,000, “and it looks as if New Zealand will put up a record this year,” he added. “Your reputation is largely the result of the good work done by the Meat Board. You have an excellent man in charge, and New Zealand lamb is advertised in every town in the United Kingdom.” Beef Market. Discussing the beef market, Mr Michie spoke rather disparagingly of the New Zealand product, referring to the class slaughtered for export as being more or less scavengers. “Australia did not grow a large quantity for export either, but enough to fill orders for the Army and Navy and certain of the institutions that maintained the poor. “As to the Argentine,” said Mr Michie, “the beef from there is excellent. They kill young cattle, about three years old, while New Zealand beef is five or six years old. The Argentine producer does not care what price he pays for pedigree stock, and breeds all the time for the export market. The beef is chilled and has a fine appearance and the opinion of most people is to the effect that it is better than the ordinary English beef, but does not come up to Scots. Argentine will undoubtedly hold the market for some years, but eventually Africa will supersede her, as transport is more expeditious. South African Prospects. “South 4 Africa, so far, has neither quantity nor quality, and is just ‘scraping along’ under tremendous transport difficulties. A small shipment arrived at Smithfield recently. It was of poor quality, but came to hand chilled in excellent condition, and sold quite well. “We sell a certain amount of Australian beef.” concluded Mr Michie, “but there wil be no ready demand unless chilled beef goes up in price. To sum the meat trade up, it is controlled by the law of supply and demand.” Mr Michie is the son of Mr A. Michie, whb retired from the position of general manager of the Bank of New Zealand in 1906.