MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17467, 30 July 1928, Page 9

MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

REGULATING SHIPMENTS. WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. PRODUCERS' BOARD'S EFFORTS. In connection with the regulation of supplies of meat for Britain the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board report states:—• Ever since its inception the policy of the Board has been to keep a steady flow of meat to the United Kingdom over the twelve months, the intention being not to hold back stocks in order lo create higher prices (with their consequent slump) but to have a continuity of supplies going forward, and thus keep up our connection. The authority exercised over shipments is probably the most valuable work undertaken by the Board and members ! are impressed with the immense gain this has been to the farming com- j munity. " i The London manager Is in close ' touch with the market' at Home and makes full use of the cables in keeping the Board thoroughly posted as to j the market conditions and prospects, i Coupled with these advices the Board j receives regular reports from its repre- ; sentalives in other meat producing i countries, and thus uses every means i available lo guide it to a sound judg- j ment.

With each succeeding year, bring- j ing with it new and varying trade j conditions, the Board is confirmed in I its conviction that there must always | be sonic central authority entrusted ! with the necessary powers to under- j take this duty and prevent our produce being shipped in a haphazard manner, which can only result in violent fluctuations in prices. Having in view the fact that wo were likely to have a larger output of iambs this season, aiso the bare state of the Home market, and the pros- 1 peels of shorter supplies from Australia owing to drought, the Board de- j cided to ship larger quantities of lambs earlier in the season, so as to till this ! gap, and accordingly made provision with the Shipping Companies for ad- i ditional tonnage. The judgment of the , Hoard in this matter has turned out j to be correct, for, although our kil- | lings of lamb this season arc largely j in excess of any previous year, yet we j have less lambs in store in New Zealand than we had at this time last j year, and there are less lambs in store ; in Great Britain. , The Board's action, in this matter has shown that the market has been able to absorb an in- j creased quantity of New Zealand meat ! this year, as will be seen by the re- j turns of the London Central Meat j Market, which show an increase of I 1,552 tons of New Zealand mutton and lamb for the first four months of 1928, j as compared with the same period last year. ... . ♦ !