MEAT BOARD

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20257, 28 July 1937, Page 3

MEAT BOARD

ANNUAL REPORT. COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. RECORD SHIPMENTS EXPECTED. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board covers an active period. The accounts show that expenditure exceeded income by £SO79, reducing the accumulated funds to £45,325. The report and accounts will be submitted to the annual meeting of delegates on August 26. The killings for export this season, to May 31, compare as follows with those for the corresponding period of last season:—

Shipping and Freight Agreement. After lengthy negotiations in London between the overseas shipping companies and representatives of the New Zealand Government, associated with representatives of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, the new shipping freight contract was signed for three years in respect of all refrigerated cargo exported from New Zealand to the United Kingdom and other destinations covered by the terms of the contract. The new oontract commenced on September 1, 1936, and the new rates for frozen and chilled meat and dairy produce represented approximately a 2i per cent increase over present rates converted into sterling and payable In sterling in London. The freight rate for chilled beef is governed by the following clause: — “The chilled beef rate shall be the frozen beef rate plus 10 per cent calculated at per ton of 105 cubic feet of space reserved on the agreed capacity of each chilled beef chamber. Agreed capacities of chilled chambers to be arranged between the shipping companies and the frozen meat companies.” The opportunity was taken to make several important alterations in the’ detailed working arrangements with the shipping companies for the carriage of frozen and chilled meat and the necessary clauses have been incorporated in the new freight agreement. Regulation of Shipments. During the season the board has exercised its usual care In the regulation of supplies of meat going forward to the British market. This work has been exceedingly difficult owing to the lateness of the season. The excessive rainfall experienced in many districts in the early part of the year combined with a lack of sunshine, resulted in the fattening of stock being belated. To show the variations in seasons it may he mentioned that the total weight of all classes of meal , killed for export up to January 31. 1937, was 230,531 freight carcases less than the„ quantity killed up to January 31, 1936, and 677,281 freight carcases less than the quantity treated up to the same date in 1935. From the beginning of February there was an improvement in the numbers treated at the various works, as shown in the total quantities killed to April 15, the figures at this date showing an increase of ' 296,194 freight carcases as compared with the killings to this date last season. It is expected that when Die season finally closes Die total amount of meat treated for shipment will constitute a record for the Dominion. It was feared by the board that owing to the backward killing season there would be a rush of stock to the freezing works in later months, leading to congestion in the freezing works’ stores, and in ordering refrigerated tonnage it look tills possibility fully into consideration. The quantities ordered would have been adequate to have met the position, but unfortunately some of the vessels to load were late in arriving in the Dominion. In its work of arranging shipments the Board may claim that the system has been markedly successful in avoiding excessive fluctuations in prices and thereby maintaining a higher average of prices than would be attained under conditions of an unregulated market. The aim in regulating shipments is to endeavour to balance them with tlie capacity of Die market to absorb Die total "volume of supplies likely to be available in England at a given time. In arranging shipping freight care'ful consideration is also given to the spreading of supplies over as wide a geographical area as possible in Great Britain, having regard to Die capacities of Die respective markets. I.ondon remains the greatest consuming centre, but great care must lie given lo avoid overloading this market Jjv allotting as much space ns possible for discharge at other ports in Die Uni led (Kingdom.

1936-37 1935-36 Beer (qrs) .. 265,SOS 264,555 Wether mutton (C/CS) 936,690 1,097,740 Ewe mutton (C/C5) 752,688 662,793 I.amb .. .. 8,702,93 1 8,255,322 Pork .. ... 642,669 641,106 Sundries (Tgtc/CS) 692,242 674,643 S,927,97 1 8,736,530