LIGH TER LAMBS WANTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 292, 11 December 1941, Page 4

LIGH TER LAMBS WANTED

HIGHER PRICES OFFERED SHIPPING SPACE SAVED Opening prices for the new season were now in operation, and following arrangements made, the prices for light lambs have heen based on a higher value than the previous year, and for heavier lambs schedule prices have been arranged on a lower level, staled the chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. Mr. T. A. Duncan, in a statement issued yesterday on the meat export position. “In respect to wethers,” he added, “the opening prices were Fixed at the same level as those which were offered last season, but as with lambs improved, prospects for pelts, etc., enabled the schedules to be increased.. “In order to discourage the shipment of heavy lambs, the only means which could be effective was to tower the price for heavier lambs. It may bp said that in the case of the heavier lamb, the additional space occupied in storage would not he proportionate to the greater weight. For instance, a lamh weighing 421 b compared with a lamb weighing 321 b would not occupy the equivalent increase in cubic measurement, as in the case of the increase in weight. “Nevertheless, there will be a certain amount of saving in space, and if the British Government continues to hold us to the actual weight o? meat which we may ship the additional weight of lamb will have a bearing on the position. It will mean that if we can reduce the number of heavy lambs, it will enable us to ship more carcases in the aggregate. If the average weight of our tolal kill of lamb is reduced by lib this will represent 5000 tons. “The position of shipping throughout last season was closely watched, especially from the point of view of ensuring that the allotments of shipping space would afford relief as far as practicable so as to enable the killing operations in each district to continue normally.

“This object has heen particularly difficult because it has been necessary to keep in mind always the paramount object of securing |hp quickest possible turn-round of vessels and in every way using the shipping tonnage available to the maximum advantage." Mr. Duncan added.