MEAT INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20283, 27 August 1937, Page 8

MEAT INDUSTRY.

SEASON REVIEWED BRITISH MARKET STUDIED DEVELOPMENT OF PI<G PRODUCTS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday The annual meeting of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board was held to-day. Mr. T. A. Duncan, in the chairman’s address, said the board had exercised its usual care in the regulation of supplies of meat going.to the British market. This had been exceedingly difficult this year owing to the lateness of the season. In arranging freight careful consideration had also been given to the spreading of supplies over as wide a geographical area as possible in Britain, having regard to the capacities of the respective markets. Speaking of quality, he said, the premium enjoyed by New Zealand lamb over other Imported lamb, If calculated on the whole output, would amount to a very considerable annual sum. Every endeavour must be made by farmers to see that this premium was maintained or Increased, especially as other countries were gradually Improving their quality. The more prime quality meat New Zealand could ship the greater would be the permanent asset thereby created In the enhanced reputation of the Dominion’s meat. 'He commended the Interest being taken by farmers in the district lamb competition and referred to the useful work agricultural and pastoral associations and freezing companies were doing in arranging -field days and co-operating with the board in connection with the competition. Chilled Beef Exports He gave the chilled beef export figures for 1935-56 as 144,169 quarters and for the 1936-37 season it was estimated they would reach approximately 200,000 quarters. He emphasised that there was room for improved quality and it was imperative that cattle sent along to the works should be thoroughly finished off. The question of adequate facilities to meet fully the requirements of this trade, having regard to future expansion, had been for some time engaging the attention of the board, which was in close touch with freezing companies, shipping companies and the Railway Department. Regarding pork, he said, It was pleasing to note that the Department of Agriculture had introduced a national scheme for the development of the pig industry which would be available to all farmers. A practical and qualified Instructive service should do much to improve the general type and quality of pigs. New Zealand porker pigs were particularly well thought of on the Smithfield Market. In fact, in the opinion of the trade there was no better quality coming to that market. New Freight Contract There was room for an improvement in baconers and the board was of opinion that the time was opportune for the standard of grading of bacon- i ers to be revised. The new freight contract, which commenced on September 1 last year, for frozen and chilled meat and dairy produce represented approximately 2$ per cent, increase converted into sterling and payable in sterling in London. The chairman went on to refer to the imports allocation agreement recently entered into with the United Kingdom Government and to the United Kingdom treaty with the Argentine and also to the active prosecution of the advertising campaign and research work.