OUTLOOK IMPROVES

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1933, Page 5

OUTLOOK IMPROVES

N.Z. MEAT EXPORT

CHAIRMAN EXPRESSES VIEWS.

(Per Press Association — Copyright. t

’WELLINGTON, October 11

An arrival by the Tannu'oa to-day was Mr David Jones, chairman of the Moat Producers’ Board, who, with Mr \V. A. lorns, visited England to renew the freight contract. “1 was satisfied the new contract will be an excellent one for New Zealand,” lie said, when interviewed on arrival. “The reduction amounts to 7.05 per cent, off the previous meat rate, and the total saving in freight on refrigerated cargo will be about £IBO,OOO a year.” Mr Jones added that, although the Meat Board did not control wool freights, he had entered into negotiations for a reduction in those in addition, and had also arranged for an improvement in the regularity - ' of arrivals of ships in. Great Britain, which would mean a considerable increase in th e number of scheduled departures from New Zealand. The quantity 0 f meat actually on the water had a very, important bearing on the stability of the market in Britain, and Mr Jones was satisfied, as a result of the new agreement, this position will be very much improved. He mentioned that .the Blue Star Dine had been made a fourth party to the contract, and this, he considered, was another good move for New Zealand. “The outlook for meat in the coming season .is distinctly encouraging, stated Mr David Jones, I would not venture on the gamble of forecasting prices, but it is reasonable to expect a very substantial increase over last year. Not only has meat improved, but wool and pelts and other byproducts are all selling at advanced prices, and the output of lamb from Australia promises to be much less than in the previous year. My' advice to the farmer is to be very wary about selling his stock forward. He is hard up, and entitled to every penny his stock is worth.”

Mr Jones said the Ottawa Agreement, as far as New Zealand was concerned, had been freely criticised, but he had never had any doubts about the substantial gain the Dominion received through it. The effect of the preferential system in favour of the Dominions inaugurated at Ottawa had been to block definitely a huge quantity of meat from Britain. The accumulation of meat had taken some time to go into glut had now been relieved, and the market for mutton, lamb and pork, the latter in particular, was in a healthy condition. '

Mr Jones expressed the opinion that the Board’s increased expenditure on advertising had been amply justified, and there was m> Empire product in Britain to-day as well advertised as New Zealand lamb, They had made the retail butcher their friend by advertising and pushing his sales, and they were now getting the results. In the last five years they had concentrated on North Britain, where it had always been maintained New Zealand meat was too good and heavy to sell. In 1929, 907,000 lambs were shipped to west coast ports, while this year the Board would almost touch 2,000,000.