NEW ZEALAND MEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1929, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND MEAT

‘.‘AN ASSURED MARKET.” [By Telegraph, Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Jan. 1. An assured market for meat at profitable prices for sonic years is the welcome New Year message to New Zealand from Air Eric IT. Fitter, a director of the well-known Smitlifield firm of that name, who is at present in Auckland. There is unusual interest in Air Fitter’s visit by reason of the fact that bis family, which has been in the Smitlifield business for three-quarters of a century, handled part of the first cargo of meat sent, from New Zealand to London. It was carried by the Albion Lino clipper Dunedin in 1882, the total comprising 598’carcases of lamb and 43V! carcases of mutton, and the prices were G:]d and Ofd a lb. “There is nothing to cause fear of slumps,” said Mr Fitter. “Indeed. iNew Zealand lias every ■reason for the greatest confidence, be(4lu.se the Argentine supply of meat is not so great as it was, one reason being the existence there of foot-and-mouth disease and another the employment of much land formerly grazed in the production of cereals. Further, there is likely to he a diminishing supply for exportation to England through the proyears ago North America was England's buy in the Argentine market. TliirP years ago NortliAmerica was England’--main source of supply, hut now the United States cannot satisfy her owi market and is buying from Canada. Although she has an embargo on Argentine meat owing to the existence of foot-and mouth disease, it is only a matter of time before she will be compelled to take beef from that country and the consequence will bo that a clean country such as New Zealand wiP iind a strong demand for meat.”