MEAT FOR AMERICA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5456, 2 August 1929, Page 3

MEAT FOR AMERICA.

PROPOSED INCREASED TARIFF. MEAT BOARD’S COMMENTS. In the annual report of the N.Z. Meat Producers’ Board the following remarks are made anent the export of meat to North America and the proposed increase in the United States tariff :— “For the twelve months ended 31st May, 1929, the following quantities of New Zealand frozen meat were landed in North America : 149,665 quarters of beef ; 8,246 carcasses of mutton ; 42,491 carcasses of lamb; 60,670 bags boneless beef ; and 4,072 packages sundries, “It is estimated that the above shipments represent a value of approximately £500,000, so it will be seen what a valuable outlet this market has been to the farmers of this Dominion, particularly those engaged in the raising of beef. It may be mentioned that, of the beef exported overseas this seasoh, no less than 60 per cent, has been shipped to North America. “The Board has been endeavouring for the last few years to find an outlet for our meat in North America, and at different periods has made several, trial shipments of various classes of frozen meat, both to the East and West Coast ports. .The result of these trial shipments prompted the Board to make shipments on a larger scale, and last year it purchased and shipped 32,500 lambs to New York to demonstrate the possibilities of this market. Copies of the account sales for these lambs were distributed to those interested, and it is pleasing .to note that as a result a quantity of lambs has since been shipped there by various shippers.

“The proposal to increase the present tariff on imports into the United States of America, of meat and wool is of vital importance to this Dominion. The present tariff and the new proposals in respect of frozen meat, which are at present before the United States legislation, are respectively as follows :— “Beef and veal per lb. present tariff lid, new proposal 3d ; mutton, present tariff 2id, new proposal 2id ; lamb, present tariff 2d, new proposal 3ld ; pork, present tariff 3d, new proposal lid. “the Board has been continually in touch with the position and has on various occasions made the strongest protests against any increase in the tariff on meat. During 1928 New Zealand imported goods from the United States to the value of £8,204,197, whilst that country took from this Dominion only £4,260,315 worth of goods, showing that the present ‘trade balance as between the two countries is greatly in favour of the •United States, thus further increasing'the adverse balance of trade as between the two countries. If such 'a 1 position is reached it will further Strengthen-the desire of New Zealanders, especially the producers, tpgiye further preference., to the purchase of goods manufactured in Britain.. ~ \ . ..... - . . ■■ . , “The Bohrd has beengoing into the question...of boning and .rolling the various, cuts of beef and packing in boxes for shipment to the United States market, and it has sent forward a trial shipment.”