How. Primary Producers Have Fared

Chronicle (Levin), 15 July 1948, Page 5

How. Primary Producers Have Fared

WELLINGTON, July 14. Primary production for the 1947-48 season is expected to show only a slight overall increase compared with the previous year, according to statistics available from the organisations concerned.- The tonnage of butter, both creamery and wliev, made by dairy factories, is expected by a representative of the Dairy Products Marketing Com5 mission to 'be slightl.v higher than for the previous 12 months and a marked improveinent on the 1945-46 ligures. Gheese production would probably show iittl e variation but if anything would have decreased, he said. The position would be clarilled when faetorv returns wero available. Millions of Cases of Fruit. More than B, 000,000 cases of apples and pears were ^iicked, of which 1,000, 000 were exported to Great Britain, said an oilicial of the Internal Marlteting Department. Abaut 1,500,000 cases had yet to be marketed in the Dominion. These figures, h'owever, did not take inLo aeeount pales made direct t'roni growers to consumers. The lenion erop would appear to be holding well but as it was harvested seasonally for a limited period of the year, no defiuite opinion could be given yet, he said. Vegetables such as potaloes and onions had been in good supj)lv and had met with a ready demand. Meat Production Down. Contrarv to expectations, meat production for this season will be less. The latest figures irom the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board show an overall decrease to date of about 156,000 tons and althougli lamb killings have already set a new record at some 500,000 tqns, the mutton tonnage has declined to 2,600,000 tons compared with 2,900,000 for tho corresponding period last year. Beef production has fallen from 887,000 tons last season to 846,000 tons. The abrupt reveiml of earlier predictions and production estimates is considered due to the abnorinal season. The autumn drouglit resulted in a far greater number of killings for the time of the year and consequent falling olf during the later part of the season.