OUR MEAT EXPORT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2214, 29 July 1914, Page 8

OUR MEAT EXPORT TRADE

ENTEBING UPON A NEW PHASE; The present outlook for New Z°aland s meat-export trade was interest mgly dealt with yesterdav by Dr C J. Beakes, head of the Meat Division of the Department of Agriculture, in an address to the A. and P. Societies' Conference. "In considering the question of our flocks, the. present position of the meat export industry must be kept in view," said Dr. Eeakcs. "It seems evident that this industry is entering upon a new phase, partly as a. result of the removal of the United States tariff uixm imported meat. Though the principal meat diet of the people of the United States consists of beef and pork, there is reason to believe that, ivith an increasing demand for meat foods, combined with a gradual falling off of tlio supply of beef in proportion to the demand, and a consequently higher retail cost,, the consumption 'of mutton and lamb is likely to increase in thafceoun-' try. Again the diversion of a proportion of our export meat to America maybe expected to increase the demand for it in the British markets. Further, it seems only a question of time before Continental countries will be importing meat' foods, and though it is unlikbly that'much of our mutton and lamb will go.into that trade, it being as a class too good in quality, and too expensive, yet what does enter those countries from other sources will be meat which otherwise would have gone into Great Britain, and consequently we may' expect,- as a result, a better market for. our meat there.- Another important tactor is the generally increased spending power of the workers in Great Britain, consequent upon higher wages, one result of which may be expected to be an increased consumption of meat foods..- And the sheep in the Argentine "OMOOn la3 *. year by no fewer than . "An indication of.the change which is-coming about in our meat export trade is given by market conditions here during the past season. Producers' have received higher values for their fat stock, and tho competition for it, on 'the part-of purchasers, 'has \been keen. Sheep-owners should fully realise thedesirableness of doing be done in New Zealand to meet that demand and ,to utilise the position to', the best advantage. One way of 'meeting this position would be to increase the carrying capacity of the ,land at present devoted, to sheep, and this, I consider, could'be. done."'" "