Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1937. DOMINION’S MEAT TRADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 29 July 1937, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1937. DOMINION’S MEAT TRADE.

Expansion of Die Dominion’s chilled beef and pig meat trade and the conclusion of a satisfactory export agreement for the current year are the outstanding features of the annual review of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, extracts from which were published in the “Standard” yesterday. How valuable this industry is to the Dominion may be seen at a glance—for the twelve months ended March last more than £13,000,000 worth of meat was exported, and if we add its allied industry of wool and other products the figure rises to over £33,000,000. Exports of lamb and mutton have fluctuated in recent years, but the market for these is very sound, and with enlarged outlets for such meat until the end of the year at least, and no threat of a curb on these loom : ing, there is every reason to regard the position as satisfactory. In the case of chilled beef and pig meats the expansion in recent times has been nothing other than remarkable, and as farmers adapt their practices to giving the market what it wants this expansion should continue. From the comparatively small export of just on 20,000 quarters of chilled beef in the 1933-34: season the shipments rose to over 144,000 last season, and this year it is expected that the 200,000 mark will be reached. For many years the Meat Board lias recognised the necessity for educating farmers as to the correct methods of farming pigs, and the result of this work is seen in the fact that the killings of porker carcases of 1935-36 reached the high total of 459,871 compared with about 29,000 ten years earlier, while those of baconer carcases rose from 21,184 to 219,690 in the same period. The figures for this year continue that progress. This development in the country’s meat trade has not arisen simply by a market being in existence and waiting for good meat to come along; it is the result of a close study of consumers’ requirements, practised from the pasture right through breeding, killing, grading, shipping, proper distribution, and concentrated salesmanship with large scale advertising. At no stage has the keynote of quality been overlooked, and the high position attained to-day reflects the greatest credit on the farmers, the board, and the latter’s officials. It is of particular interest to the Manawatu district that, particularly in the case of lamb, the high mark of quality is being kept up, for in the fat lamb competition promoted annually by the board the Manawatu entry carried off the trophy awarded, while a Kairanga farmer had the distinction of owning the best pen in the North Island section. Increasing competition in this mar-

ket demands that quality be maintained at all cost, for unless it is the premium New Zealand lamb earns over other countries’ exports may be jeopardised. With such quality and the intensive advertising campaign carried out by the Board —it is spending £23,000 annually in this direction —New Zealand meat should maintain its present prominent place before the consuming public. As to Britain’s meat policy: As announced recently, an agreement has been concluded between the New Zealand and United Kingdom Governments by which the total allocation of imports of New Zealand mutton and lamb for the calendar year 1937 has been fixed at 4,010,000 cwt. As the agreement in the first place provided for 3,900,000 cwt, it will be seen that a distinct advantage has been gained, for this is substantially in advance of the total imports from the Dominion in 1936. Wliat will be arranged at the expiry of the present year remains to be seen, but the outlook is most promising, since the Mother Country lias concluded an agreement with the Argentine which remains in force until the end of 1939, and that period gives breathing space as far as a serious rival in the meat market is concerned. What is likely to affect New Zealand’s market most within that period is the British Government’s policy in respect to home production.