SHARP INCREASE IN MEAT KILLINGS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 March 1946, Page 7

SHARP INCREASE IN MEAT KILLINGS

Press Association

BUT TONNAGE MAY BE DOWN.

T?7/ Telearavh —

w x# jjjjiiNt GT e/ivT, lviarcn 11. The possibie diversion oi' skips to JfJew Zealand as a resuit of the national paoking-house s'criae in Argenana is not expected to be of any niacerial advantage to the Dominion's meat industry. The allocation of shippxng space tms season nas heen greater tatau in recent years; the wonts are not jammed, aua storage space is adeciuate, according to the gcneral manager of ths Meat x-roducers' Board (Mr. J. J. Evans). For the season which hegan on Octoher 1, the killings to tlie middle of FeDruary were inore tnan 900,000 "up in tne case of tambs and 90,000 up in wethers and ewes compared with tne correspontung penod oi iast year. The stock posltion nevcrchetess is approximately the sanie as this time last year. Though the killings to date show a sharp nicrease, it is considered doubtliu whetner the total tonnage for the season wilt reach last year's. Becausa oi the widespread drought conditions, many sheep necessarily have heen kiiicd neiore tne normai time. The average weight of carcasos in tne North IAanu is blb less tiian last year, and in the boutn lsiand it is about thc same as iast year. On the other hand, the drougnt — enforced kiilmgs may possibly mcrease the totai tonnage, but at thc cxpense of capital stocas. If that does happen, it wiil not be considered a matter of materiai concern, beca'use | hJew Zealand's stocks of oreedrng ewes are greater than ever before. I'rom j 1938 to 1915 the hreeding ewe popuia- j tion increased hy more than l,00u,000. In vicvv of the fact that thero is al-1 ready adeq.uato snipping space, tne oniy \ bencfit which will be denved from the j diversion of vessels from Argcntina will be in the fact that the industry will be able to gct its product more j qiuckly to the consumer in Britain. In ' years such as the prcscnt, whcn the; iiuality is a little below normai, this is ! considered desirable. So far the diversion of only oue ship . from Argentina has heen mentioned ex plicitly, but it has been indicated that I others may foilow. It is believed that i somc which would nox-maliy have gone s to Argentina or Australia have already ; come to .New Zeaiand direct from Britain. i As a resuit of severe droughts, Aus tralia this year has comparatively little to ofl'er in tlie way of meat. Capital stocks of sheep there are estimated to have deciined by 2j,0u0,000 in the last two years. New Zealand exports of meat have in creased greatly during the war years. 1 The 1937-38 total was 276,103 tons; in i 19-11-15 it was 337,000 tons and would J have been even greater but for debonmg. The wartime shortage of meat aua ! the system of Government dxStribntion j m Bntam has given the New Zealand j product sale through a large number oi new retail fcliannels. "Many new consumers are no doubt finding out for themsej.yesrnthat ,New Zealand lamb ancl mutton are the" best in the world, and the reputation which we have built up and are now extending should stanci us in good stead ii? the future," said Mr. Evans.