THE MEAT INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15356, 3 October 1923, Page 6

THE MEAT INDUSTRY.

PROSPECTS IN BRITAIN.

NEED FOR HIGH QUALITY.

The following communication received by an Auckland firm from a London correspondent has been forwarded to us:—

“We have shared the view that the shortage of meat from New Zealand in the autumn here may be expected to result in advancing prices, and I have expressed surprise that buyers have shown so little inclination to speculate on this anticipation. An examination of the figures of imports for the current year seems to disclose some reason for their nervousness. The total shipments from all sources for the seven months ended July 31 are:—

"You will observe that the diminution in sheep and iambs has very little importance when it is set off by the colossal increase in frozen and chilled beef, and while it is possible that with the later months of the year this decrease in mutton and lamb may be even more accentuated, there is little reason to suppose that the increase in beef will not be maintained. In fact, it is a matter of surprise that mutton and lamb prices have been maintained at such a high level. It is quite true that, taking the New Zealand shipments alone, the falling off is very considerable, but the Argentine and Patagonia have very nearly replaced the deficiency and the standard of quality from those countries has been well maintained; and there is not the difference in value in the meat from the two countries that there used to be some years ago. “I think these: figures may be of some interest to you if you have not already had them in front of you,, and the principal moral to be derived from them is that it is incumbent upon New Zealand to maintain a high standard of quality if its meat is to retain the premier place in the quotations.”

1922 1923 Mutton 4,810,000 4,551,000 Lamb , 0,259,000 5,943,000 Frozen beef . .. 1,402,000 2,470,000 Chilled beef . . 2,158,000 2,803,000