STRONG POSITION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1942, Page 5

STRONG POSITION

MEAT EXPORT INDUSTRY MINISTER ON CONDITIONS IN PROSPECT. FINANCIAL AND OTHER DETAILS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “I. can congratulate the meat industry on the strong position it is in today compared with 18 months ago,” said the Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, Mr Harclay, addressing the electoral committee of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board at luncheon in Wellington yesterday. ‘‘Unless something unforeseen happens in the next month or two we will be practically clear of export produce when the new season's meat comes on the market,” he said. “Though cables from the United Kingdom Government suggest that we cannot expect the run in the coming season that we have had this year, we will be all right for storage; we have space for practically a full year’s production in our cool stores.” ESTIMATE OF SHIPMENTS. It was possible now, the Minister said, to make a fairly close estimate of export killings and shipments for the meat year which would end on September 30. Total killings for export were estimated at 268,439 tons — lambs 169,975, wethers 18,683, quarter beef 34,975, pork 18,738, offals 9440. making 251,403 tons, plus 17,036 tons not originally intended for export in frozen form —ewes 11,000, bull beef 679, bobby veal 53577. The decision to save these latter meats was macle recently because of the improved shipping position. Killings for canning totalled 61,891 tons —boneless beef 24,768, ewes—4B,l23 less 11,000 saved for export —37,123. The total kill, therefore, was 330,330 tons, compared with 330,000 estimated at the beginning of the year. The stock position showed an .estimated carry-over of meat for export of 44,812 tons at September 30, 1942. “This must be considered a very healthy position,” said the Minister. “In fact, having regard to future liftings and requirements, our stocks are rather bare and some difficulty may be experienced in supplying meat cargoes during the next two or three months. Australia, because of a drought and increased local consumption, has not been in a position to export meat, and this has been an unexpected benefit to our industry and has put it in a very happy position.” Carry-over stocks at October 1, 1941, were 88,408 tons —77,902 for export, 8494 for canning, 2012 for boilingdown, shipment to the United States and local sale. The export position for the past season was estimated as follows:—The carry-over was 77,902 tons and the export kill 268.439 tons, a total of 346.341 tens. It was hoped by the end of September to get away 300,000 tons to the United Kingdom and 1529 tons to other destinations—an amount never dreamed of this time last year, when it was thought that export would bo about 190,000 tons. The estimated carry-over of 44.812 tons at September. 1942, was only a little more than half what it was last year. It was estimated that 21,500 tons of the carryover would be required for the forces in New Zealand and the Pacific area, leaving only 23,313 tons available for the United Kingdom before the new season’s meat came on the market. POOL SHOWS SURPLUS. The Minister announced that it was estimated that the meat pool formed last year would show a surplus of £439,952, not including the 11,000 tons of ewe mutton which it was hoped to get away and which would swell the surplus further. The Government, Mr Barclay said, was buying the meat three months after it was in the freezer. During the year it had had to lean to a large extent on the Reserve Bank for the meat account. At times the amount had been up to £6,000,000: today it was about £4,500,000, and at the end of the year the Government would have advanced about £3.000.000 to the meal industry. The interest charged to the pool was at the low rate' of about 11 per cent. It had been suggested that during the past year the Meat Board had not been so closely associated with the department as it should be, the Minister said. If that were so it was because both the Marketing Department and the Agriculture Department were un-der-staffed. To meet the position in the coming year it had been decided to appoint a committee for consultation on policy matters. The personnel would be: The general manager of the MeatBoard, Mr J. Fraser; the Primary Industries Controller, Mr A. H. Cockayne; the Director of Export Marketing. Mr G. A. Duncan. If they were not available their deputies could act.