FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1921, Page 12

FARM AND DAIRY.

FROZEN MEAT PROSPECTS. It is still early in the year to venture predictions on the coming frozen meat export season, says the Wellington Post. Advices from Home show that stores arc congested, and the consumption of meat is confined almost entirely to lamb and light-weight mutton. Breakfast bacon and heavy-weight bacon arc in great supply, blocking the stores in some cases. Beef is a drug on the market. There is still a large quantity of beef held in New Zealand on account of Vestey Bros., and pur-, chased from the Imperial Government. Farmers are not at present much concerned with the market position, as owing to the mild winter, feed has been generally plentiful, and stock is still fattening. Prices are believed to have touched bottom, but of that it is not possible to speak with certainty. An improvement in the Home market is hoped for by September-October; but at present meat eating has received a decided check through the continuance of hot weather.

Large supplies of beef and mutton are understood to be held in South America ready for shipment to Britain should the market show signs of revival. Lambing in the North Island is earlier than elsewhere in New Zealand, but it is not yet started. The weather prospects are so far favorable, but it is impossible to forecast what it may be in, say, the middle or at the end of next month. If it continues mild as at present then the lambs will have a good chance, for the ewes are in excellent condition at present. The best of the lamb market, it will be remembered, was lost last season through delays in slaughtering, the result of an industrial dispute. It is earnestly hoped that London will be able to afford pastoralists the financial relief of which many of them are in need to-day, by offering a good market for the coming season’s lambs.

MEAT PRICES IN BRITAIN. An interesting view of the course and causes of the slump in meat prices in Britain was given at the Dominion Farmers’ Union Conference by Mr. AV. J). Lysnar, M.P.. who said he thought too much blame was being laid just now on the high freights and the high freezing charges. Attention should be centred on the trusts. The freights and freezing charges amounted to. 3d a pound. It was better to focus attention for the time being on the shilling that was lost at the other end. x The slump was being engineered by combines while the retail price was on the rise. In February last, the month preceding the commencement of the slump, the High Commissioners figures showed that the retail price per pound of beef (ribs) in London was Is sd, of mutton (leg) Is 4d, and of mutton (loin) Is 4d. The March quotations wore: Rib beef, Is sd; leg of mutton and loin of mutton, Is 4d. For April, the month aftei* the commencement of the slump, the quotations were:" Beef, Is 7d; mutton leg. Is 6d and mutton, loin. Is 4d. A euliing from the London Times for June showed the retail price of mutton, legs, as Is 2d to Is Bd. Therefore, mutton had risen fourpence a pound retail, while the farmers in New Zealand had been experiencing a slump. H the farmers allowed this to go on, a very big section —not less than one-fourth — would be bankrupt in two years. If the farmers, putting out over 87 per ceiijt. of the exports of the Dominion, went down, the country would go down. Whatever the farmers did they must do with controlling power from this end, and through paid servants who could be discharged at any time. The farmers should have their ■ own shops to put them in direct touch with the retailers.

While New Zealand meat was bringing the prices he had quoted. English ribs of beef were selling at 2s Sd, that was, Is Id higher than New Zealand beef; mutton, legs, were bringing 2s 7d, Is l<i higher; mutton, loins 3s, Is 8d higher. If the New Zealand farmers realised that to-day a large proportion of their meat was being sold at those higher prices, they would have an idea of what huge profits some people were making. It was right that he should mention that as tlfe law stood in England, if a butcher sold 'imported meat he must tag it; but the farmers were aware that conditions like that were often honored more in the breach than in the observance. A large quantity of meat sold as English was imported. Air. Lysnar finally remarked that New Zealand was sending to England the best men in the world.