MEAT EXPORT

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160723, 9 August 1920, Page 5

MEAT EXPORT

m TRADE WITH AMERICA, BEGINNINGS OF BIG BUSINESS. The frozen lamb trade with the United States has begun well, and, from advices received by the Post from New York, it promises to assume important dimensions. The Suffolk’s shipment of lamb went to New York on a bare market. More than 5000 refrigerator cars filled with meat and meat products destined for New York bad been held up in transit through strikes on the railways, and were distributed over some 1000 miles of line. Their contents were speedily ruined after a few days. When they [were emptied the men had to wear gas masks. Thus some thousands ,of tons of food were destroyed through the strike. However, the Suffolk’s meat went into immediate consumption, and when she discharged at New York the lamb went direct from the ship’s hold into refrigerated vans in waiting, for distribution at various pons well inland. The meat was sold by the British Hoard of Trade to British and American distributing houses, and taken from the Imperial Government stocks in New Zealand. The new trade had begun before the war broke out, but it is now being resumed. The following shipments have been or arc to be made to date: Lamb. Mutton.. Northumberland 50,000 Armagh 251,79? Suffolk f 222,-56-? Surrey 156,000 20,092 •Durham 175,000 Somerset 220.000 Wangaratta 220,000 Hororata 190,000 4,400 Devon 240,000 1,749,727 24,492 In addition to the above, recent shipments to Vancouver have consisted of carcases lamb and 17,922 carcases mutton, and to San Francisco 6950 carcases lamb. There will be three loadings in September. Roughly, the quantity despatched and loading is 1..500,000, including mutton. This will not only substantially reduce the quantities of meat in store, but will assist in a small way in relieving the exchange position. The lamb is bought by the Imperial Government at 6}d and 6Jd per pound: what it has been sold to America at is not ascertainable, but what it has been sold at retail in New York iu June is as follows.: Cents per lb. Whole carcases 25 Long halves or sides 25 Rib chops 35 Loin chops 37 Legs 36 Other parts - 18 American buyers, iu purchasing New Zealand produce in New Zealand, are able to operate at practically 25 to 27} per cent, advantage over British buyer.! with the current rate- of conversion at dollars 3.75 to 4l sterling, owing to depreciation of the value of sterling in the United States. They are thus able to pay a higher price for New Zealand produce than British buyers arc prepared v> pay by reason of the current conversion rate. This cuts three ways. It is bringing the .American buyer into competition wi?3T the British buver. it hj assisting in some slight measure to adjut the position between the dollar and the pound, and it is benefitting the New Zealand producer by relieving congestion in the stores in New Zealand in preparation for the reception o: next'season’s meat when it begins to come in. Further, the trade which has opened up so well is one that promises to afford a large outlet for New Zealand mutton and lamb iu the future. In connection with the shipments, it may be mentioned that Armour and Co. have handled a fair proportion of the meat discharged iu New York.