GAMBLE IN MEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 10

GAMBLE IN MEAT

THE BOBBY CALE TRADE. LAST SEASON’S KILLINGS. Advice that boneless veal, or bobby ealf meat, killed last season after July 12 may now be shipped to the United Kingdom, to arrive before March 31, has been received in Auckland from the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon, C. E. Macmillan. The shipment of this meat, which was bought from the farmer at very low prices, (doses an unfortunate chapter in the export trade. According to the trade view it emphasises fhe danger, associated with quotas, that similar incidents may occur, bringing loss to the producers. The beginnings of the bobby calf affair go back to July, 1934, when embargoes on the export ol certain classes of meat were brought into effect, The bobby calf killing season, was then under way and the average price being paid was about, 3s fid head. Exporters were at first advised that kil lings of bobby calves for export, would not be allowed. This meant that, the meat in the carcases was practically valueless, and consequently the «aver 9ge price dropped to about Is 94, which was what tho skins and sundries were worth to buyers. The. meat was boiled down at the work-, for meat meal. Shortly after I he first intimation, ex porters were notified that the embargo referred not to killings, but to the ex port of ftbe meat. This placed buyers in the position of deciding whether to hold the meat and take the, risk of shipment at a later daite, or continue boiling it dowu. Home took the latter course, but considerable quantities of me ait were held in store. The farmer did not conic into the question at, all. He continued to re an average price of Is 9d which meant that he was virtually giving the meat sway, although the price improved somewhat as the season progressed. While the meat was in store in New Zealand it had no value, but,Tiowitbat it can be shipped, it will doubtless find a. market. In some cases Now Zealand buyers carried the risk of ultimate rtQipment, but. in others the meat was sold to English. buyers, who took a ehan ce. Six months have elapsed "ince the meat was put in store, so that storage charges and indirect costs must have taken away some of the profits on. the various deals. However, it is eleiw* the producer has lost half The value of each carcase. Bobby calves are not a great revenue-producer to the farmer, but they provide useful ready cash between milking seasons. Meat exporters consider that, if blame is attachable to any interest, it must be to the Meat Producers’ Board or to the arrangements which made such circumstances possible. They claim they should not have been placed, in a position of having to choose between holding 4116 meat and boiling it down.