PRICES FOR MEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 December 1939, Page 8

PRICES FOR MEAT

PURCHASE ARRANGEMENTS N.Z. GOVERNMENT AMD BRITAIN. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. The purchase arrangements and prices for all classes of meat loaded for the United Kingdom on overseas vessels are announced by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon W. Lee Martin. who states that the procedure which had been adopted was designed not only to meet the wishes of the United Kingdom Government, but also to facilitate the smooth and expeditious handling of meat products at all stages. The general condition of purchase in respect of grading laid down by the contract with the Ministry of Food is that the meat is to be of the usual

descriptions and grades as at- present shipped from New Zealand. This, however. has to be qualified as regard's the North Island to the extent that all works will in future grade the Down cross lambs separately from the ordinary crossbred type lambs, and an undertaking has been given that all carcases graded Down cross will be of Down type. The grading standard in respect of these two classes of prime lamb will be the standard which has been in operation for the last two years at the Hawke’s Bay Works. These standards will be established and supervised by the supervising graders of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board who also will continue to superintend the grading of all other classes of meat. At the same lime it is most important that the undertaking we have given that shipments will be of the usual descriptions and grades shall be conscientiously carried out, said the Minister, and it is expected all works’ managements will themselves, in their own interests, see that their standards of dressing and general get-up of both carcases and of sundries shall be fully up to their regular standards in all respects.

Freezing companies have already been instructed by the Primary Industries Controller to telescope all mutton and lamb killed for export on and after November 27. The additional cost of telescoping is a matter which is at present being discussed with the United Kingdom Government. It is a condition of the purchase agreement that 75 per cent of the total weight of pork, shipped' to the United Kingdom shall be of the 101/180 range. The Marketing Department will therefore hold each shipper responsible for the shipment by him of the appropriate weights of porker and baconer pigs. Failure to comply with this provision may result in payment being withheld by the Department in respect of any porker pigs shipped in excess of the 25 per cent weight permitted. The following is the schedule of prices which are all f.o.b. New Zealand currency:—

Lambs. Prime Down Cross, 2’s, 7 7-8 d; B’s, 7 13-lfid; 4’s, 7 9-lfid; tegs, G 15-1 fid. Prime Canterbury quality 2's 7 13-lfid; B’s. 7 11-lfid; 4’s. 7 7-ifid’ tegs G 13-lfid. ’ Prime crossbred, 2’s, 7 11-lfid- B’s 7 9-1 fid. ’ " Prime crossbred. 4’s, 7.',d; tegs. 6!d. 2nd quality. 361 b and under. 7|dover 361 b, 6 13-lfid. Prime Wethers and Maiden Ewes. 481 b and under, 5 5-lfid; 49 56. 4 13-16 d; 57,64, 4 9-I6d; 65/72. 4 5-16d' over 72, 3 11-16 d. 2nd Quality Wettiers. 561 b and under, 4 9-16 - 57/72 4 3-16 d. Ewes. 641 b and under, 3 3-8 d; over 041 b 2 15-16 d. Boneless. Ox. 4 5-8 d; bull, 4?.d; cow, 4d; bobby veal, 5 l-8d; boneless veal, 4 3-16 d. Ox and Heifer Beef. GAQ 145-210 hinds. 5 7-16 d- fores, 3 3-16 d (overs and tinders Id less). FAQ all weights, hinds 4!d, fores 3 l-Bd. Cow Beef. GAQ all weights, hinds 4d. fores 3d. Baconers. 101 to 1801bs, carcases Ist quality singed 7Jd; unsinged 7 7-1 fid. 2nd quality singed. 7 3-lfid; unsinged 7 l-Bd. Porkers. GO to lOOlbs. —Carcases Ist quality unsinged, 7 7-10 d; 2nd quality unsinged, 7 l-Bd. Headless sides. Ist quality unsinged, 7 13-lfid; 2nd duality tin- I singed, 7Acl. Choppers. Excluding boars, unsinged. 4 15-16 d.