THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1929. ARGENTINE MUTTON & LAMB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5468, 30 August 1929, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1929. ARGENTINE MUTTON & LAMB.

Some time ago attention was drawn, by this paper to the rapidly increasing export of mutton and lamb from Argentina to the United Kingdom, and the serious competition with New Zealand that was likely to occur. Although not by any means palatable, what the “Hauraki Plains Gazette” said at the time was only too true, and although the statement might not have been taken as 1 seriously as it warranted, more evidence is continually being adduced to forcibly illustrate the correctness of the pronouncement. Mr D. W. Westenra, of Canterbury, who is on a visit to London investigating the New Zealand meat trade in the United Kingdom, and who, in company with Mr R. S. Forsyth, of the N.Z. Meat Producers’ Board, and Mr L. A. Nicoll, of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Co., has spent a great deal of time on the Smithfield Market, after discussing the trade from all po’nts of view with market men, importers, and retailers, is reported as being particularly pleased with the position occupied byNew Zealand in the mutton and lamb side of the meat business, but like most visiting New Zealanders is surprised to find that the .South American shipments of mutton and lamb are so extensive. The current opinion in New Zealand appeals to be that South America is almost entirely a beef shipper, and it is perhaps not known that for several years past South America has been actually shipping more mutton than New Zealand and is also greatly increasing her lamb shipments. In pre-war days the lamb shipments from South America seldom reached the million mark, but this year it is expected that her shipments of lamb alone will total four million carcases, which is even a greater percentage of increase than that shown by New Zealand lamb. Another disquieting feature, from the New Zealand standpoint, is that the grading and breeding of South. American mutton and lamb has shown improvement for a number of years now, according to the Smithfield experts, arid Mr Westenra was surprised to find the appearance of South American lamb and mutton so good. Fortunately for New Zealand the South American meat does not eat quite so well as New Zealand, and for this reason New Zealand obtains a premium of over Id per lb over South American mutton and lamb. Mr Westenra was satisfied that we shall have to put our best foot forward during the coming years in order to hold that premium, which is worth so much in actual hard cash to New Zealand.

The latest available figures for New Zealand show that the amount of mutton exported to the United Kingdom during the period October 1, 1928, to August 15, 1929, amounted to 1,473,493 carcases, as against 1,611,517 during the same period the previous year, a decrease of 138,024 ; the figures for lamb being 5,458,399 and 5,372,244 respectively, an increase of 86,155. Thus

it will be seen that the large decrease in mutton exported more than offsets the increase in lamb. The situation is reaching a stage where it will become critical. Argentina has the advantages of less distance and chilled instead of frozen meat in her favour. Empire buying is carried out by the population of the United Kingdom wherever possible, but when it comes to the pocket of the poorer people, and the lesssr cost of ti:e same article, sentiment must perforce go by the board and the cheaper be purchased, be it Empire or foreign. There is no getting away from the fact that now, without piocrastination, is ihe time to act, before it is too late. It is always easier to criticise than proffer remedial suggestions, but this is only' written in th? nature of a warning. There are many experts interested in the Dominion and the Empire as a whole who are capable of investigating the situation, and they should do so. Chilled meat, faster boats, reduction of overhead by intensive and cooperative work would seem the solution from the point of view of a mere layman.