BEEF FOR EXPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1926, Page 4

BEEF FOR EXPORT

A VANISH INC! INUFSTIiV

W EUI.TNCTON, May (-nst year lias nrac lieully soon the noalli cl the New Zealand frozen I,oof trade, said a prominent man in the moat business to-day. The recent dmuobt on the East Coast of the l.sl'tnd, lie said, had led to large killings of news, calves, and yearlings in Hawke's Day and Vairarapa, and the result must be serious to the Few Zealand trade in frozen Iwef for nt J ti ist two or three years to come. I hero was always a limited market for frozen beef in the past, not at: high prices, but at payable prices for surplus stock. Cattle in. New Zealand were used for keeping sheep pastures in good order, and with fair prices the farmer should consider himself well paid.

The situation was different froi that in the Argentine, where stop were killed at two years or eightee months. Here stock were killed a

four years. The West Coast of the North Island is reported to have had a Surly good year, and it is stated that cattle stocks are at least normal. The South Island is said to have been doing exceptionally well, hnt in Auckland beef grazing has diminished . almost to vanishing point,' and although there are some cattle in the north of Auckland, they are not of prime quality.

The overseas market~ffor New Zealand beef has vanished. Now Zealand fores have been qnoted at ff.jd per lb. and hinds at oil, 'an average of 4Jd per lb. At these figures Dominion beef cannot compete seriously with I chilled beef, which is being supplied to British and Continental markets at Sid per lb for fores and 4Jd for hinds. It is considered locally that there is no possible doubt that supplies of chilled beef available at lower prices have also somewhat affected the prices paid for New Zealand. Hutton and lamb graziers, apparently, are not willing to seek possible, higher prices for beef. Sufficient beef for local markets is all that has been expected dining the winter, and this year it is considered problematical whether supplies will be sufficient. But it is thought that there are possibilities (ahead for the Dominion in the exploitation of the chilled beef industry. Australia has begun to do so, and New Zealand’s chances are said not yet to have vanished.