MEAT PRODUCERS BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1925, Page 4

MEAT PRODUCERS BOARD

A YEAR'S WORK. THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. The third annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers Hoard for the year ended June 30th. last states that the excess of income over expenditure for the twelve months amounted to 1'11.107 18s dd. The investments now totalled £3(1.00!). the accumulated fund standing at £48.813 6s. Referring to the season, the report states that from a fattening point of view it was a very satisfactory one. the climatic conditions throughout the Dominion during the spring and summer being favourable. The autumn conditions. however, in many parts were not so favourable, with the result that there was an appreciable falling oil' in the number of stoek sent along to the freezing works at the tail end of the season. Despite the fact that the lambing returns last spring were estimated to be slightly in excess or the preceding year's figures, yet up to June 30th. there was a shortage in the killing figures as compared with the previous -vason of lll.dgy lamb;. The killing's of sheep ami cattle, however, had been much greater, with the result that the total weight of meat treated tit the different works was greatly in excess of the preceding season. DEMAND FOR BEEF. The Continental demand for beef had given it fresh stimulus to the cattle industry. and the demand from this qitaried would probably he maintained. The prices offered on the Smithheld market in the earlier part of the season were satisfactory, and resulted in remunerative prices being offered to beef-raising farmers in the Dominion. D wits to he hoped that the recent fall in prices, owing to heavy arrivals of chilled beet from the Argentine, was only temporary. and that prices would soon improve. It was pleasing to note that tbe year’s operations showed an mcrease in the frozen heel exports. The quantity of cow beef shipped to Genoa and Glasgow during the past twelve months had been of great benefit to the dairymen of this country. Ihe <|tiantitv of pork shipped during the season constituted a record, and it was hoped that this marked the commencement ol tbe real development of the pig industry The (inalilv of the pork shipped had’ made a' very favourable impression on the British market and had resulted in nuiMv Imjuirios in t lu» trsitlo. SEEKING NEW MARK F.TS. Besides endeavouring to stimulati production and improve the condition i„ Which the meat was marketed, the board was constantly endeavouring to extend the channels of distribution, and open tip new markets. From . veinber Ist. to May 31st. the tola shipments of meat this season amounted to I ,V"I freight carcases, computed with 3.11(5.!!)] for the same period last 1- T|.(. hoard recently sent a tnal shipment of pites to Go .. also some calves to test the market then. I"' calves met with a ready sale at ;aiisfm tore prices, but tbe pigs "ere fund ,o be 'rather light for the requirements „c Hie trade. A further trial shipment of heavier pigs would he made shortly a trial shipment ol lambs was also sen to Boston. F.S.A.. but the returns were not satisfactory, the prices realised not being up to London parity. There had lately been a remaritahte development in the frozen meat Iraue in Continental countries. Fast year the total importations from all sources, chiefly from South America amounted to -1 of).IKK) tons, which was double the lie i, res for 1923 (±>3.000) and four times the 1922 figures (113.210). Most of the meat imported by the ( oulincnl was licet, chiefly second grade. Tins trade did not want heel that was inclined to be fat. Several shipments ol ■ beef had rctently been made from New Zealand to Genoa, the total quantity

shipped to dale amounting to 21.000 freight carcases. A few years ago vcr\ few of the butchers ol Italy would allow frozen meat into their simps, while now the majority stocked it. As to whether the present Coni inciilal outlook was likely to be pcrmanenl or not depended on the economic conditions oi each country, and The increase ol ils own domestic flocks and herds. All European nations, however, appeared to have increased their meat diet and present indications pointed to an outlet for heel on the Continent provided prices were reasonable. REGULATION OF SI 11 I'M ENTS. As the Board mafic all freight contracts for llie carriage of (lie whole ol the Dominion's frozen meal, it was able to direct the quantity of meat that was to he shipped each month. By this means it had been able to obviate the great glut of supplies which was a feature of pre-war days, with its i miseqiieut variation in prices. These great litict lint ions in prices were certainly nol beneficial to I lie producers, nor did the consumer in Great Britain receive any benefit from them. The whole idea behind the regulation of shipments by ll',e hoard was to keep a steady How of meat going to the British market over the twelve months of the year and not to hold back suitplies in order to create high prices with their consequent slump. The records of prices since the hoard began to regulate supplies showed how level they had been, and the board through its regulation of shipments, bad succeeded in reducing the activities of speculators which had been so detrimental to the trade in the past. In regulating the shipments as it had done, the hoard had taken a serious responsibility, but the results showed that the policy ol the board in ibis direct ion had been fully justified.

IMPROVED GitAl >IX<J ANT) lIAX'DIAXG. During the past season the board’s supervising graders bail reported most favourably on the standard of grading at Ibo different works in tbe Dominion, and tbe value of tbe policy of tbe board in setting the .standard of grading in each district was now being realised by fanners and Ibo trade generally. It was also pleasing to note from tbe inspectors’ report that there bad been a gnat improvement in tbe manner in which tbe meat was being bandied in the loading of vessels in tbe Dominion. Tbe improved handling at this end. combined with the many reforms that bad been instituted by tlu* board in London, bad resulted in tbe meal being shown in Smithlield to belter advantage. Tbe method of tinloading meat at some of tbe west coast ports of ft real Britain was. however, still very primitive. This was a matter to which, the board was at present giving attention. It was • pleasing to note that to-day, in Groat Britain the words “I’rime Canterbury” had become, not only a trade term, but also household words as applied to meat ol t lie highest quality. The reputation of Xew Zealand meat was one of the country's greatest assets, and every farmer should recognise the obligation that was placed on him to safeguard this reputation, and to realise that lie wo- a trustee for the future prosperity ol tlie Dominion. THE J’Ol!K IXDUSTRI Tbe board was making every ell'ort to develop tlie pork industry, and encourage exportation. This year, no to .1 tine 30th. 5.j.739 pigs had been kilted for export, equal to "(l.liaO freight carcases. Tbe prices realised for the pigs on tbe Smitlitield market bad been fairly satisfactory. and it was pleasing to note tlie giant impression the quality ol the pigs had made on the British market. In order to encourage tlie export ol pork, tbe board bad arranged lor a particularly low freight rate, namely ijd per lb. Special consideration was. given by the board to all applications for shipping space required for pork. REDUCED FREIGHTS.

After a very careful and thorough 'ii-ve-tigattoti ot tbe whole question, the hoard, in conjitnci ion with tlie Dairy Produce Control Board, entered into a cotract for shipping freights for a period of three years from November Ist. 1924. The reductions secured by r 1 1 i = contract represented an a mud saving to tlie meat producers of tlie Dominion of filiO.OOtl. Tlie reduction in freights obtained by tbe board sine-'* it; inception were:—Frozen meat—l922-2:1 season, ; 1923-21. £104.000 and 1921- £120,000; tallow and pelts 1922- £108.030. In addition, the board secured a reduction on dairy produce for the 1923-24 season, representing a saving of £101.730. I his was before tbe Dairy Produce Control Board was established. COLD STORAGE RATES. The policy of the board since its inception had been to obtain the highest

net prices for the producers of the Dominion. Although it might be said that some of the reductions in costs, which had come into existence since the board was formed, might have eventuated in the ordinary way, stiil it would be generally conceded that, most of the concessions obtained would not have been obtained if it had not been for the activities of the hoard and the powers it posscfsed. In addition to the reduction ill ocean freights, there had also been considerable reductions in instirace, railway rates, London charges, etc. The present cold storage rate in Great Britain, which was approximately Jd a Hi. a month, was a big tax on the frozen meat trade. The rate was excessive especially as there was m* dearth of storage in Britain. In watching Ibe interests ol the producers of the Dominion the London office of the hoard had become an instil lit ion. Mr Forsyth, the Loudon manager, was proving himself a worthy representative and was very popular with tintrade. Many reforms in the handling of meat in London and elsewhere bad been made at the instigation of the Loudon office, and these wore reflected in the conditions of the meat as disolnved on the various markets. \BYI'T’TI'sING NEW ZEALAND LAMB. The fohomo arraged by the hoard, which enabled any person to arrange for a carcase of prime New Zealand lamb to he delivered to friends in Great Britain, continued to be an excellent advertising medium, and bad been the means of introducing Now Zealand prime lamb into thousands of homes in all parts of the Old Country. In conclusion, the report emphasises the necessity lor increased production, and the flirt her development of New Zealand’s primary industries. Ihe necessity for Empire preference is also stressed.