MEAT EXPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 128, 13 March 1939, Page 6

MEAT EXPORT.

FARMERS' UNION COMPLAINT.

REPLY BY MEMBER OP BOARD. (Per Press Association). DUNEDIN, March 11. Commenting on the New Zealand Partners’ Union president’s reference to meat exports, Mr James Begg, a member of the Meat Board, said that Mr W. W. Mulholland evidently thought the board was not constituted to deal with the position in the best way. All except three members/however, were appointed by the farmers, and two of those three members actually were farmers. They wore thus seven to one against the brokers’ man. “I am sorry to see that, this great industry of ours has been- made a shuttlecock for party politics’' Mr Begg said. “There is no doubt wo owe gratitude to Mr Coates, but things have changed since those days. The National Farmers’ Union in Britain is a strong .political force, and this restriction would have come, no matter who had been the Minister. Mr Nash, to my personal knowledge, has fought as hard against these restrictions as anyone else, and it is only fair to make that, statement.” ■ Mr Begg said the .restriction of 3 per cent. Would mean a reduction of 4000 or 5000 tons on the amount New Zealand shipped last year, and last year was a bad one. The restriction was not so bad in numbers, but in weight it amounted to thousands of tons. The hoard had decided that there should be no restriction on killings this year, as that Would give the market a Serious knock. What New Zealand was allowed to ship this year was based on last year’s shipments, and if further arrangements were made for 1940, they Would bo based on this year. That made it essential that New Zealand should ship the full quota, allowed by December 31. “It may bo necessary next year to restrict killing,” Mr Begg added, “and that is going to be a serious thing for New Zealand. Fortunately, the Home Government has allowed us to decide Which meat we shall restrict. We must restrict what brings in the least money, but’ if the British authorities expect a 3 per cent, restriction to raise the price of Home-killed meat, they are going to be disappointed, and more drastic .restriction may be required.”