MEAT EXPORTS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23318, 2 May 1941, Page 10

MEAT EXPORTS

CONTRACT ARRANGED WITH BRITAIN

' TOTAL OF 248,000 TONS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 1. An announcement that a meat contract between the United Kingdom and. the New Zealand Governments for the current season had been completed was made by the Minister for Marketing (-the Hon. J. G. Barclay) to-day. In this ; contract the United Kingdom Government agreed to purchase 248,000 tons • of meat within the production year-ending September 30, 1941. “This: quantity is considerably below the figure of 300,000 tons contracted for during the first year of the war,.but is substantially above the quantity of 180,000 tons, which at one stage was the maximum the . United Kingdom Government considered could be shipped and purchased during the present year.” said Mr Barclay. “This contract secured by New Zealand for 248,000 tons.” continued the Minister, “is comparable with Aus•tralia’s contract figure for 198,000 tons, ..but in order to make the position quite clear, it should be emphasised that ’these contract quantities, as they rebate ,to both countries, are not necessarily identical with the actual quantitles of meat which will be shipped to the end of the present year. “It can be definitely stated, however,. that the Australian contract of 198,000 tons represents the same proportional reduction from their previous contract as in, the case pf,New Zealand* and there is no suggestion that Australia will ship a greater proportion ; of their meat to the United Kingdom than will New Zealand. “In regard to both countries the attitude of the United Kingdom Government throughout the year has been to lift all the,meat that was humanly possible in 'the circumstances, and at all times an : equitable ratio was being maintained/’

The Minister concluded by saying that the surplus quantity of meat over and above the contract quantity would still .present a major problem which the; Dominion wpuld have to face. In this respect negotiations were continuing with the United and it was'also* hoped that development of canning facilities would 1 greatly assist in utilising, the various classes of meat which-could-not be shipped in the usual “manner.