EWE MUTTON IN STORE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23412, 20 August 1941, Page 8

EWE MUTTON IN STORE

NO CANNING OR BONING

EXPORT POSITION IMPROVES

(P.R.) WELLINGTON. August 19. Because there is every possibility that ewe mutton now in store will be lifted before ewe killings next season begin to accumulate, the Government has now decided that export ewe mutton at present in store will not be boned out or canned during the present season. This was announced tonight by the Minister for Marketing (the Hon. J. G. Barclay). In his statement Mr Barclay revealed that liftings of meat for Great Britain had shown a marked improvement,, and that it was almost certain that by September 30, the end of the export season, the quantity for export in store would not be much in excess of 100,000 tons. The Minister said it would be recalled that a special meat committee set up by the Government in March last recommended that all ewe mutton should be disposed of by means other than export, which meant, in effect, that it would either have to be canned or processed into meatmeal or manures. At that time it appeared likely that the accumulations of export meat in the Dominion at the end of the present season might amount to 180,000 tons, and in view of that situati.cn the Government agreed, after further consultation with the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, definitely to consider the possibility of canning all the export ewe mutton. “Since that time, however, the position has materially improved,” said Mr Barclay. “First, additional cool storage has been made available. ‘Second, the development of economies, such 5s deboning, canning, trimming, and moulding, has b,een remarkably successful in reducing the net volume of our export meat. Finally, liftings by the United Kingdom Government have shown a marked improvement. The combination of these factors makes it almost certain that the quantity of export meat in store at the end of this season will not be much in excess of 100,000 tons. In addition, the Government has received advice from the New Zealand High Commissioner’s office in London that there is every possibility that ewe mutton now in store will be lifted before ewe killings next season begin to accumulate." It had to be realised, the Minister said, that in present circumstances the canning of that meat would be advantageous only under conditions of extreme emergency, because canning entailed very heavy loss, and meant the wastjrrg of approximately two-thirds of the carcase. The United Kingdom Government would prefer this meat in carcase form if there was a possibility of lifting it within' a reasonable time. "It is also fair to state,” Mr Barclay concluded, "that the Meat Producers Board is still strongly recommending the deboning and canning of all ew.? mutton in store; but it is the view of the Government that while this recommendation was valid where there was a possibility of a surplus at the end of the season of 180,000 tons, it is not acceptable in present circumstances, and particularly in view of the definite nature of the communications received from .London advising the New Zealand Government that the boning out of this mutton should not be proceeded with.”