FROZEN MEAT OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1922, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT OUTLOOK.

I.ON DON FIRM’S REVIEW. NEED FOR REGULATION. London, Dec. 23. To-day the annual review by Messrs. Gilbert Anderson and Company, of the frozen meat trade, for the season ended September 30, was issued. Despite the apparent gloomy days ahead> it is believed thstt a retrospective suinmary of tl|e trade generally through the last 12 months will stimulate effort and encourage producers generally to take heart and hang on for the better times that must come when the stocks of previous season’s growing, have been consumed. One item that is a wonder to all statisticians and worthy of notice is the large quantities of imported meat landed here during the period under review and the huge amount going into consumption week by week. Particularly was this noticed, during July and August when lambs especially could not be discharged quickly enough to meet requirements. Considerably difficulty has been experienced in unloading vessels owing to the numerous sub-marks. Ship-owners refuse liability for wrong delivery, and as a considerable amount of handling and damage (apart from delay) is caused through the separate marking of each farmer’s lot, it is to be hoped in the interests of the trade in general, says the report, that there will be more pooling of small parcels and less marking during the approaching season. Discussing the prospects for the current season the report says:—The future is still very obscure. Little more than half the output of New Zealand has gone into consumption and it is more than provable that the market will go considerably lower before stocks are cleared. There is every prospect of a large carryover of stocks into 1922 which may meet the competition of new season’s meat. Buyers have been caught so severely by the falling market that they were not anxious to enter into forward commitments. Current prices with charges at their present level leave little or no margin to the producer. Every endeavor is being made in this country to reduce overhead charges, and the opinion is expressed by Messrs. Anderson that it is up to the producer and shipper to see that all possible reductions are made in the Dominions.

It is to be hoped that full advantage will be taken of the increased storage capacity in the works to regulate supplies. The large consumption of lamb here is in the months of May, June and July, but the frozen mutton and lamb trade is one for all the year round and regular supplies mean regular trade. It must be recognised fully that when stock is in prime condition it must be killed and frozen and the first shipment sent off promptly. As far as New Zealand is concerned these shipments should be made up to the end of March: After March it should be possible closely to estimate what the total supplies will be for the year, and from that date shipments should be made so as to equalise the supply for the remainder of the year, care being taken not to send heavy shipments of lamb to arrive in August. Colonial growers must be prepared to sell at reasonable prices to retain their trade, and shipments should come along regularly. It will be courting disaster to hold off and let stock grow to unsuitable weights or to let stocks accumulate in the face of buyers. The prospects are good if used wisely. Business can only be retained by selling and keeping the trade on to our supplies.