MEAT FOR GREAT BRITAIN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5006, 28 July 1926, Page 2

MEAT FOR GREAT BRITAIN

REGULATION OF SHIPMENTS. WORK OF PRODUCERS’ BOARD. Dealing with the regulation of shipments of frozen meat from the Dominion, the N.Z. Meat Producers' Board, in the course of its annual, report, states: — “To keep a steady flow of meat going forward to the British market over the twelve monthr of th© year has been the aim of the board in its _ work of regulating shipments. The seamen’s strike, which occurred at the l-a.tter end of last year, upset the board’s arrangements considerably, particularly in respect to the shipment of the balance of that season’s kill, with the ’result that quantities of last year’s meat were still in store in the Dominion at the commencement of the new season. A more serious effect of the strike was the holding up of the Australian supply of lambs, the quantity of which was considerably above the average supply. As the shipments of this large quantity of Australian lambs were considerably delayed, and as there were already ample stocks of our meat in store in London to meet thements of the market, the boiard had to readjust its shipping arrangements in the early part of the year, thereby avoiding a glut of meat on the Home market. As the board makes its shipping arrangements each year to fit in with the killing months, also the requirements of the Home markets, these arrangements must be made months ahead sei as to give the shipping companies ample! time to provide the necessary tonnage,; so it will be seen how serious is any interruption in the way of a strike on the. regulation ensuring continuity of supplies from this Dominion. "The advantage of having a continual- supply of meat going on to the British market has now been fully recognised by the meat trade, and its effect in helping to stabilise the marked is reflected back to the Dominion in more uniform prices being offered by buyers. “In the report of the Impeiial Economic Committee on the marketing of 'foodstuffs produced in the overseas parts of the Empire, when referring to the regularity and continuity of meat supplies, it says: ‘Regularity and continuity of supply are most important factors in the attainment tSf success in the British market, and we caphot too strongly impress on the producer the advantage he will, derive I’rom close attention to these points.’ “Referring particularly to New Zealand supplies the same report goes on to say : *A feature of the New Zealand meat trade is the regularity and continuity of supply. This has been rendered possible by the organisation of the producers under the New Zealiajid Meat Producers’ 1 BOard. The main function of this board, as it at present operates, is to regulate supplies from New Zealand to British ports, in such a way as to prevent . temporary gluts and shortages, and this object it achieves by negotiating with the shipping interests' in respect to freight rates and the allotment oj space. The board has been the subject of criticism, but in view of the favourable finding on .this subject by the Royal Commission on Food Prices we have not felt it incumbent upon us to go into the matter further in this report.’ - “The greater demand for our lambs cin the British market commences rfter Easter. Like all other markets, the British meat trade can absorb a certain amount of lamb in the offseason, and early shipments of new season’s lamb often realise good prices but shippers and producers must recognise that the requirements of the Horne trade must be carefully studied, and an over-supply df lambs before the lamb-eating season commences in Britain should be avoided. In observing the requirements of the Home market in this respect producers must also take into account the •meet economical time ’for the farming of the early lambs, having regard to the period when there is greater abundance of'feed.”