LARGER STORAGE SPACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20000, 27 July 1939, Page 15

LARGER STORAGE SPACE

DOMINION’S FROZEN MEAT FAST SEASON’S LESSON REGULATION oE SHIPMENT (Special to tlio Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. As a result of difficulties experienced with the storage of frozen meat during the past season, the annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board states that it would be' in the interests of freezing works 'in ihe Dominion if storage facilities were increased at a number ol works. Tite regulation of shipments proved most difficult during the season, a; :• result of the abnormally dry conditions, large numbers of sheep and lambs being killed earlier than usual, and on March 15. the killings were 1,000,000 in excess of those on the corresponding date the previous season.

An unprecedented position was area ted. Storage capacity was restricted at many works, and killings had to be restricted at some of them In the allotment of shipping space, special consideration was given tc

mints where the trouble was acute and at the same time it was necessary to watch the position careiu to see that the London market wa not overloaded.

“There is no doubt that the refrigerated storage capacity of man) freezing works in this Dominion L not equal to the strain of an abnormal season such as the one just experienced,” the report continued “and the board is of the opinion that it would be in the interests of the Dominion if .storage facilities were increased at a number of works.”

In supplying the Home markets, increasing attention was being giver to the out-ports, to which larger shipments were being made. Attention To Grading

Special attention was being giver, to grading, and the grading stall was augmented during the year tc deal with the increasing quantities o. chilled beef and other classes ol meat now being treated in the North Island. To ensure that the grading was maintained on a uniform standard in the various districts, the board continued the practice of arranging for its supervising graders to exchange visits from one district to another.

“In view of the increasing competition from all sources in the meat export trade to the United Kingdom,” the report adds, “the board would again stress to all farmers and sheep breeders, the vital importancel of improving the quality of their flocks. The premium which this Dominion has always secured in the United Kingdom over that obtained by other exporting countries, is due to quality, and every endeavour must be made, to see that this premium Is maintained or increased. At All Costs

“It cannot be stressed too much that our reputation on the British market has been built up and maintained on quality and wc must retain his advantage at all costs. “In this connection, the board some time ago communicated with the sheep breeders’ societies in the Dominion, asking them to endeavour in every way possible to influence their members in the direction of producing the type of sheep which will best suit for the production of the ideal lamb. The importance of using only the highest quality rams and breeding from the most suitable type of ewes, thereby raising the standard of our export lambs, is a matter which the board desires to again impress on all farmers in this Dominion."