H.—3o

The total weight of frozen meat purchased was 293,133 tons, giving an average pay-out to freezing companies and meat-exporters of 6-42 d. per pound for all descriptions of frozen meat and edible offals. The following table shows particulars of meat purchased during the twelve months ended 31st July, 1944, classified under the main descriptions of meat purchased :■ —

Note. —(1) Meat Schedule Prices lo be paid to Farmers by Freezing Companies and Meat Operators at Opening of 1944-45 Season : For convenience of reference the following letter from the Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the Meat Board, written before publication of this report, is quoted. This letter announces the meat schedule prices to be paid to farmers by freezing companies and. meat operators at the opening of the 1944-45 season, and also arrangements regarding the Meat Pool Account and the Meat Industry Stabilization Account: — 20th November, 1944. The Chairman, N.Z. IVteat Producers' Board, Wellington. Deak Sib, — Meat Schedule Phices, 1914-45 This letter will serve to conlirm my previous intimation to the members of your Board that as a result of the agreement reached between the Board and the Economic Stabilization Commission, meat schedule prices to be paid to farmers by freezing companies and meat operators at the opening of the 1944-45 season will be as follows : — Lamb — Prime Down Cross and Prime Canterbury— 23/42 .. .. .. .. .. 9d. 43/50 .. .. .. .. .. Sid. 51/56 .. .. .. .. .. Bd. Prime Cross Bred— 23/42 .. .. .. .. .. Bfd. 43/50 .. .. .. .. .. 8-j-d. 51/56 .. .. .. .. .. 7fd. Seconds— 23/42 .. .. .. B|d. 43/50 .. .. .. .. .. 7|d. Wethers : North Island — Prime — 64/U . . .. .. .. .. s|d. 65/90 .. .. .. .. ..As 641b. @ sfd. —30s. Bd. Seconds — 64/U .. .. .. •. .. 5Jd. 65/72 .. .. .. .. .. As 641b. @ sJd.—2Bs. Wethers : South Island — Prime — 64/U .. .. .. .. .. s|d. 65/90 .. .. .. .. .. As 64 lb. @ 5Jd. —295. 4d. Seconds — 64/U .. .. . • • ■ .. sd. 65/72 .. .. .. .. .. As 641b. @ 5d.—265. Bd. Ewes — 64/U 3fd. 65/90 .. .. .. .. .. .. As 641b. @ 3§d. —19s. 4d. Quarter Beef— Ox — G.A.Q. all weights .. .. .. .. 40s. per 100 lb. F.A.Q. all weights .. .. .. .. 365. per 100 lb. Heifer— G.A.Q. all weights .. .. .. .. 395. per 100 lb. F.A.Q. all weights .. .. .. .. 345. per 100 lb. Cow — G.A.Q. all weights .. .. .. .. 335. 6d. per 100 II). F.A.Q. all weights .. .. .. .. 28s. 6d. per 100 lb. Boner Beef0x....... . . . . . "1 ,^ ull '• '• '• '• '• •• !> 235. per 1001b. Cow .. .. .. .. .. .. j r Heifer .. .. .. .. .. .J The cost of the increases in Marketing Department purchase prices for meat necessary to enable these increased schedule prices to be paid to farmers will be debited to the Moat Industry Stabilization Account. The United Kingdom offer, as you are aware, coyers export meat only, and to avoid the complexity that would arise by a two-price schedule for local and exported meat, it is necessary to base all prices on the export schedule, and to reimburse from the Meat Industry Stabilization Account the sum necessary to maintain local prices to the consumer. The amount of this compensation is estimated to be not more than £400,000 annually, and this amount will be a charge

14

t, , ,, i Average Price . rp Purchase Valuo V, „i Glass ol Meat. Ions. /at 7 (* 'nrrmir>\-'i per Po.und ' tuuenoy). (N . Z , Currency). Frozen— ' £ cl - Lamb 157,771 11,291,673 7-67 Mutton 61,912 2,095,240 3-63 Beef and veal 45,094 1,975,155 4-69 Pig-meats 18,832 1,519,102 8-64 Sundries 9,524 687,815 7-74 Total .. .. .. .. .. 293,133 17,568,985 6'42 Preserved — Canned beef and mutton (including meat and vegetable 14,416 1,359,374 ration) Tongues, &c 1,140 255,971 Total .. .. .. .. .. 15,556 1,615,345 Total, frozen and preserved meat .. .. 308,689 19,184,330