"INEVITABLE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 13, 16 January 1941, Page 9

"INEVITABLE."

MEAT RESTRICTIONS. CRISIS WAS ANTICIPATED. "We had been expecting this for a long* time, and recognised that it was inevitable," .stated the principal of a leading firm of meat exporters in Auckland to-day commenting on the cabled announcement of restrictions on Dominion meat supplies imposed by Britain owing to shipping difficulties. This view appeared to be general among exporting interests, although it was clear that the possible repercussions cannot be gauged at this stage since no statement has been made concerning the extcait of tlie reduction. "If there are no ships available to get some of our meat away, it is obvious that arrangements will have to be made to dispose, of the surplus in some other way," stated the executive of a large meat exporting house. "This applies particularly to lower quality meats and old ewe mutton, which will have to be boiled down and the by-products dealt with. Moreover, eome effort should be made to increase consumption in New Zealand." He added that twelve months ago a shipping shortage was predicted and the Government made arrangements with the meat companies to provide additional storage space. Extra buildings were proposed or under way, since the present crisis had been anticipated. All the companice had to provide extra storage capacity based on a percentage of the year's production, and those companies which did not have that amount of storage were instructed to provide it. It had to be remembered that well before the. Avar a quota was in operai tion, and there was every likelihood of ; restrictions of some sort after the cessation of hostilities. Australian Advantage. Regarding a statement by the Minister of Marketing, Hon. W. Nash, that similar negotiations about restrictions were being conducted in Australia, it was I pointed out that the impact of any restrictions would not be felt in the Commonwealth to the same extent as here. Their season was earlier, and almost all this season't output had baen cleared before the diversion of shipping took place. Australia also had a large internal market, and, in any case, the drought had resulted in less production to be dealt with. So far as New Zealand's meat exports wore concerned, the shipping spate allotted up to the end of last month had been entirely adequate. "I believe the ltriiish Government bears New Zealand much more goodwill than we deserve, and there is no question of spite in this move; the idea is ridiculous,"' was the remark of a prominent meat exporter referring to the suggestion that delays on the waterfront in the Dominion had influenced the authorities at Home to make other arrangements. "Tlie cut is entirely owing to the shortage of ships, the necessity for diversion, and the need for getting meat by the shorter route from tlie Argentine.. The position would probably be relieved if and when vessels can be spared from North African and Middle Kast waters. Before next year it should be possible to release more steamers. ,.

"Working in the Dark." Another man aiss<x'iated with the export business said the industry was working in the dark, since nearly all decisions were made by the Government these days. One great advantage of Britain trading with the Argentine in wartime was that a boatload of meat could be taken on at one port and convoyed all the way to England. In New Zealand the vessels could not load to capacity at one port but had to take quantities at various ports to relieve storage space. At present the Auckland works were facing a variety of problems. There was a shortage of competent butchers, mainly through enlistments and the territorial ballots, while the rush of lambs had resulted in space being booked thre« weeks or more ahead. However, some of those difficulties were mainly seasonal, and some relief had been provided as a result of last week's rains. It was also stated that dairy produce, would receive priority in refrigerated ships. Cheese was especially sought by Britain since her other sources of supplv had disappeared.