Evening star., 1923-12-31
- -. Z
EUROPE Is BUYING
MUCH MORE MEAT
U. S. Packers No Longer Worried
Over Exports-Payments Also
Made in Cash.
OUTPUT GREATEST TO DATE
Opening of Books Now Biggest
Problem in Industry.
OUTPUT GREATEST TO DATE
BY J. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


NEW YORK. December 3l.--The
packers of the United States have
ceased to regard the export situation,
particularly as regards Europe, with
apprehension. Statistics gathered as
the year ends show that from so to
50 per cent more meats and fats were
sold TO Europe than in 1922, and that
the 1928 exports of hog products will
exceed those of any year since 1915.
Best of all, the packers are being paid
in dollars for these shipments and
not in the deprecated currency of
the countries to which they have been
shipped.
This Improvement in the export
situation proved a lifesaver for the
packing industry in view of the fact
that meat production in this country
was the greatest in history, exceed
ing that of 1922 by 1,5o0.OOo,0O0
Thomas L. Wilson, president of Will
son & Co. This increase was due
largely to the increase in pork.
Increase in Purchases.
The packers bought nearly 10000
600 more hogs than last year. 1t is
practically essential for the large
packers to clear up and handle the
in daily whether they have an imme-
diate market for the meat products
or not. This is necessary in order to
assure shippers of steady market
I'm the packing centers so that enough
animals shall constantly arrive to
keep the packing plants at each oc-
cupied.
The usual procedure is for the
buyers for the packers to go into the
market each morning for what they
actually want and when the wants
are satisfied, large concerns estimate
what number of animals is left and
clean up" so that the runs shall be
practically clear for another day.
The packing business is one of the
few where it is difficult to curtail
operations even when demand is ab-
that they take a finished product and
disassemble it instead of buying raw
materials and assembling them.
Demand Steady In 1923.
Throughout this year. however, al
though there was some over produc-
been maintained both here and abroad
and meats move rapidly into con-
sumptive channels This trend has
been aided by lower price levels
which show declines from the peak
of from 20 to 20 per cent.
Germany has been heavy buyer
of lard and fats and pork products
while the English demand has been
fair both for lard and meats. the
meat consumption of France has in
creased over pre-war levels and
frozen and chilled beef and mutton
are being shipped there in large
quantities to meet this demand. Italy
also is manifesting increased meat re-
quirementS as a result of the ming
ling of the italian soldiers with those
of meat -eating nations during the war.
Packers regard their industry as
fair barometer of business and in
dustrial conditions both here and
abroad. When wages are good and
labor we'll employed the effect is very
noticeable in the sale of meat prod
ucts. The increasing demand mani
tested this year, therefore, has i'm
pressed them with the probability
that prosperity will be maintained in
kthis country and that conditions will
Improve in Europe.
Opposed to Opening Books.
The most pressing problem faced
by the packers today is the effort
on the part of the government
through court action to compel them
to allow the Secretary of Agriculture
TO maintain auditors i'll their
offices with full access to all records.
The packers maintain that this might
information of methods and pro-
cesses. which are of the utmost
value, of which it is impossible to
patent.
The packers are seeking support
in their fight from other lines of
industry on the ground that if 1t Is
held legal to compel packing COM
panies to give access to their books
at all times whether wrong doing
is alleged or not, it will be equally
legal to compel similar compliance
in other lines of business.