The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 7th., 1925. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 7th., 1925. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

In the latter months ut' 15T24 the position of the world’s meat supplies tinder went a complete change, the significance of which, says a Home paper, although clearly realised within the meat trade itself, has so far been only vaguely apprehended by the general public. In its simplest manifestation the change took the form of an increase of over ICO per cent, in the cost- price of live cattle in the Argentine Republic; but that may be taken as a clear indication that at last the over-production of cattle has come to an end, and. tor the time

being, the iinrld’s demand lor beef has overtaken the -ii| nL . M.W. We Idel and Co.. Ltd., in their :t7th l-eview el til' llezell meat trade, state that this situation |,a< been liiitiglit about partly through seme slackening elf in production. on account o! the uuremiinerativc prices obtainable by stock-raisers for rattle during the expansion which lias taken pace recently ill the Continental demand for frozen beef. Great Britain no longer stands alone as practically the only meat-importing country in the world. Xu fewer than eight other countries are now actively competing with Britain for the uva bil'lo ex, at surplus of the world. I gist year the ( ouiineiit. absorbed IAO.OOO tons of beef from oversea, a quantity equal to 70 per cent of tin 1 beef imports into Great Britain. These supplies were drawn from Argentina. I'ruguav, Brazil. Australia. New Zealand, and South Africa, and. having regard to the hamer quality of meat called for liv the Continental taste, the prices realised were fully equal to the values ruling in London. ’Hie total weight if frozen and (hilled meat imported into Great Britain list year amounted to 870,899 tors, as compared with 92.1.139 tons hi 1993. Frozen beef import, were rediruvl by 19.11)1 tons, or I 7 per cent., aml mot r n ami la mb arrivals by 39.H1M too-, oi 13 per cent.; but receipts of (lulled beef were iueretircd he 31.9P3 t.ms or 5.3 per (cut. The total quantity of meat estimated to be available for consumption in Great Britain and Ireland during 1991 was 1.9(19.51S tons, made up as follows: Home killed, about 1.1)71.0911 tons; imported frozen and chilled (less re-exports). 811,917 tons; imported fresh meat. 7.919 tons; and imported meat in the form of live stock. 91,099 tons. The proper lion of imported meat to the total quantity consumed is now 11.9 per cent., as compared with pi. 7 per cent in 1993. The total output of beef, mutton, and lamb by the freezing works of the world last year is estimated at 1,398.100 tons, as compared with 1.1 10.800 tons in 1993. The British Empire's share hist year in this important trade amounted to only 919,000 tons or 19.1 per cent. Hi regard to the present year, from all appearances supplies ol imported meat to Britain will be none too plentiful, while there is no indication from the statistics of live-stock that any material alterations will take place in Inline supplies. Apart from any unforeseen political or industrial disturbances, and assuming that there will he no material reduction in the Continental demand for meat. tlie. average prices ol most descriptions ol imported meat should he higher than in 1921.