MEAT SUPPLIES FOR BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25679, 16 December 1948, Page 8

MEAT SUPPLIES FOR BRITAIN

OPTIMISM ABOUT N.Z. PRODUCTION PROSPECT OF RECORD OUTPUT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. New Zealand meat producers’ ability and their determination to increase the export of meat to Britain in her time of need, were indicated in a statement by the general manager of the New’ Zealand Meat Producers’ Board (Mr J. J. Evans) this evening. Mr Evans said that there was a prospect of a record output in the present season, and plans were being made for securing the declared objective of an additional 50.000 tons per annum by 1955.

“A statement published in Wellington this afternoon, giving the impression that New Zealand cannot do much more to relieve the gloomy outlook for meat in Britain, accentuated by the falling-off of Argentine supplies, was supplied without my knowledge, and is incorrect,” said Mr Evans. "The outlook for the season just begun is particular# good, and it is anticipated that the tonnage for export will be a record. “The objective of an additional 50,000 tons of meat by 1955, being only a 14 per cent, increase on present exports, does not represent anything beyond the capacity of our producers. “It has to be remembered that, in spite of shortages of labour, fertiliser, and many other requisites, meat production for export has expanded since just before the war by nearly 25 per cent. It is expected that the report of the Sheep Commission will supply a valuable contribution to plans under consideration to increase meat production.

“The certainty of a market is made even more certain by the shortcomings of the Argentine, and the prices, which cannot fluctuate to a marked extent for seven years, must be a fillip to production. In any case, meat producers throughout New Zealand have a reputation for producing results when it is clear that extra results are required, and they can be relied upon to live up to this reputation,” Mr Evans concluded.

The general secretary of Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Mr A. P. O’Shea) said that if poorer country in New Zealand could be worked economically, farmers could considerably expand their production of meat. It was a question of costs, and sufficient supplies of fertiliser.