MEAT EXPORT SCHEDULE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25607, 23 September 1948, Page 4

MEAT EXPORT SCHEDULE

—♦— PRICE MAY BE BUILT UP

MR I. L. M. COOP’S VIEWS

“From a first glance at the schedule it would appear that the prices were disappointing, but as wool is free, we expect it to be built up considerably,” said Mr I. L. M. Coop, chairman of the meat and wool section of the North Canterbury district of Federated Farmers, commenting yesterday on the opening meat schedule for the 1948-1949 season.

"We are disappointed that the difference in values between first and second grades in lamb remain the same, and that the discrepancy between the under 36’s and up t 6 the 42’s .also remains the same,” Mr Coop said. “We realise, however, how difficult it has been for the Meat Board to negotiate prices because of the Government’s stabilisation policy. "Personally, I think the Meat Board has made a satisfactory job of dealing with a very difficult situation,” Mr Coop said. "In my opinion-, it would have been much better had the Government agreed to let pelts, hides, and tallows run free, because it is well known that through the stabilised fixed price for pelts to the freezing companies, this country has lost millions of pounds, in that if the freezing companies were paid for the quality of pelts instead of a fixed price, the incentive would be there for them to do a better job. This policy may lead to New Zealand pelts getting a bad name overseas.

The British Government gave New Zealand a 15 per cent, increase in her meat prices this year to get New Zealand to increase its meat production,” Mr Coop said. “In actual fact, the New Zealand farmer is not getting this extra price, and it is very difficult to see where he is going to get the extra money to encourage his production. It was very unfortuante that Mr Nash * h JL s exchange rate off after the Meat Board had completed negotiations m London for the 15 per cent, increase.

♦u Q ne eanhot but feel very sorry for the back country wool producer, whose income has been reduced by 20 per cent, just when it seemed he was getPP 1 of trouble,” Mr Coop said. For him, there is no way out.”