H.—3o

A feature of this season's production of dehydrated meat has been the marked improvement in the product as the result of extensive research and improvements in technique. The meat is now being packed in 6 lb. cans, for which a special canning plant had to be built and installed. Fat is added to the' requisite content of 40 per cent, and the meat juices are returned to the product. The meat at present being treated is bull beef and bobby veal mixed in equal proportions, with the addition of bestquality edible beef tallow. « After the end of the period covered by this report, but before its publication, a cablegram was received from the United Kingdom Government requesting that New Zealand should cease production of dehydrated meat, as the outlet was now confined to Service requirements, which were covered for 1945 by stocks in sight. Consequently, production stopped on 30th September, 1944, and boneless bull beef and bobby-veal toere released for shipment in frozen form. PIG INDUSTRY The Pig Marketing Emergency Regulations, which were gazetted on the Ist April, 1943, have continued in force during 1944. These regulations fix maximum prices at which pigs may be purchased by operators for slaughter, and prescribe the scale of basic values of frozen pig-meats acquired by the Department. Pursuant to these regulations, the Marketing Department has acquired all frozen pigmeats, the object being to ensure that the available supplies of such pig-meats were distributed in an equitable manner amongst the trade, having regard to the requirements of the Armed Forces and of the civilian trade. The prohibition on the consumption of pork in New Zealand has continued, and the Marketing Department has been the sole buyer of pork since the 20th May, 1943. During the year under review, increases in prices payable to producers of pig-meats have been authorized by the Government and paid by the Marketing Department for the frozen pig-meats acquired by it. The main increases have been as follows : — From Ist October, 1943 : An increase in the price of porker pigs from a top price of 6|d. per pound, "heads off" to 6|d. per pound "heads on." This adjustment was equal to approximately a 10 per cent, increase in producers' returns for this class of meat. From 20th January, 1944: Increases in the prices for heavy-weight baconers, together with an extension of the upper weight limit for heavy-weight baconers from 170 lb. to 200 lb. From Ist May, 1944 : An all-round increase of |d. per pound in the prices payable to producers for all classes of porker and baconer pigs. From Ist .June, 1944 : The seasonal increases for the winter and spring period on the scale established last year, plus the all-round increase of fd. per pound referred to in the preceding paragraph. The Pig-meats Advisory Committee, comprising representatives of the producers, operators, and bacon-curers, has continued to function, and has done excellent work in advising the Government on matters connected with pig-meat supplies and allocations to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces and the civilian trade. The Pig-marketing Emergency Regulations already referred to apply in. the North Island only. In the South Island the. Marketing Department has continued to buy frozen pig-meats from freezing companies for supply to the Armed Forces at prices established by the " on hooks " prices payable to producers in May of 1943. These prices were increased by |d. per pound from the Ist May, 1944, as in the case of the North Island. Note. The Hon. the Minister of Marketing announced on 31st October, 1944, that an increase of |(I. per pound above the summer schedule for porkers and baconers, as sot out in Gazette Notice No. 42, dated 25th May, 1944, would apply for the period 20th November, 1944, to 31st May, 1945, with corresponding adjustments in the winter schedules. This increase also applies to the South Island prices as from 20th November, 1944.

DISPOSAL OF 1943-44 SEASON'S KILL The following statement shows the production and disposal of each class of frozen meat killed for export during the 1943-44 season : —

19

Disposal. auction. lt , Shipments ( ; d „ „ to United N>t . Dehvdra- states e Local Kingdom ™ . . Wright Canning - tio p j01 f Z f land Market. and Total " Weight. Purchas- Army. M;ddle mg Board. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Lambs .. 157,946 .. 7,896 35 12 150,003 157,946 Wethers !' ..15,850 .. .. 1,804 52 21 13,973 15,850 Ewes .. •• 46; 202 99 46,103 46,202 Quarter beef .. .. 28,374 .. .. 25,912 700 .. 1,762 28,374 Boneless — , „ Cow and ox.. .. 19,230 17,048 .. 2,182 19,230 Bull .. .. 3,540 .. 1,548 1,992 3,540 Veal 6 805 .. 650 .. .. 202 5,953 6,805 Veal sides " 975 .. .. 975 975 Baconers . ..10,143 .. .. 3,478 535 3,630 .2,500 10,143 Porkers .. .. 7,084 .. .. 6,969 50 50 15 7,084 Choppers .. •• 684 .. 238 446 684 Offal 9,490 .. .. 2,581 .. 248 6,661 9,490 1 £ —— Total .. 306,323 17,048 "2,198 52,035 1,372 4,708 228,962 306,323