FAT LAMBS AND SHEEP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1939, Page 3

FAT LAMBS AND SHEEP

PRICES FOR EXPORT. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. fßy Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Prices to be paid to farmers for fat lambs and sheep for export were announced yesterday by the freezing companies and meat exporters operating in the Wellington. Wairarapa and Taranaki areas of the North Island. Overall price schedules were recently announced, and the only departure from the previous practice is that the prices in the Wellington, Wairarapa and Taranaki areas are delivered Wellington and/or New Plymouth, whichever is the nearest port. This means that farmers will receive the same prices from operators irrespective of which works the stock is killed at. Stock is beginning to arrive at the freezing works, and from the lambing returns recently printed it appears that New Zealand can expect an increase in killings during the coming season.

The announcement was recently made by the Hon. W. Nash that it was not the Government’s intention to disturb the present buying channels any more than could be helped and that the Marketing Department would pay fixed f.o.b. prices to freezing companies and exporters, the price being paid tc the grower being left in the hands ot the trade.

It is conceded that the freezing companies and exporters have in the past served the farmer well and in this period of emergency can be relied upon tc continue to give every satisfaction. The great advantage from the farmer's viewpoint is that he con continue tc deal through his usual buying connections.

To ensure that the fullest possible price is being paid to farmers and only legitimate charges are being deducted, exporters have arranged to provide the Department, of Agriculture with regular returns of their operations in all districts. The current prices for immediate killing, and which ara considered to be very satisfactory, are:— Lambs.

CrossDown bred 361 b. and under Bjd 8d 37/421b B>d 7’d 43/501b 7:id 71 d Over 501 b 73d 63d 2nds., 361 b. and under .... 7Jd 71d 2nds., over 361 b 7d 7d Wethers. 481 b. and under 5Jd 49/561b 4id 57/641b 4gd 65/721b 3‘,d 2nds., 561 b. and under 4gd 2nds., over 561 b. 4d Ewes. 641 b. and under 33d Over 641 b 2jjd

Rejects at valuation. All prices are on the basis delivered Wellington and/ or New Plymouth. Similar arrangements are in operation elsewhere in the North Island, and it is expected that a like basis will be adopted in the South Island when the season opens there. With the object of economising space in the freezing works, in the overseas liners and in British cold stores, arrangements have been made for the ‘‘telescoping" of the carcases of lamb and mutton, as was done during the Great Wai’. A cut is made in the carcase between the flaps and the rump and the fore and hind parts are secured by a special lashing. It is stated that “telescoping” gives a saving of approximately 25 per cent. The system will operate as from Monday.