BULK PURCHASE 0F N.Z. MEAT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 10

BULK PURCHASE 0F N.Z. MEAT

Talks In London Next February RESPONSIBILITIES OF DELEGATION (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 17. The delegation to go to Britain early next year to continue talks with the British Government on meat marketing will carry “extremely grave ' responsibilities,” according to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake). Mr Holyoake announced today that negotiations would reopen in London early in February. One question for decision was whether to allow the bulk-purchase contract to expire next September or run its full term till the end of the 1954-55 season, he said.

“It is apparent that decisions that must be made next year will have farreaching effects on the meat industry in the Dominion and on the economy of the country as a whole,” Mr Holyoake said. “The responsibilities resting upon the delegation will accordingly be extremely grave.” He announced the members of the delegation as Mr E. J. Fawcett. Direc-tor-General of Agriculture (representing the Government), and Messrs J. D. Ormond and L. A. P. Sherriff (representing the Meat Producers’ Board). Mr A. H. Ward, of the Dairy Board, he said, would act as adviser to the delegation. particularly in relation to meats derived from dairy farms Discussions on the New Zealand contract would coincide with discussions between the Australian Government and the British Ministry of Food, and it was expected that liaison would be maintained between the two delegations during the discussions. “The New Zealand bulk-purchase contract is current only to the end of the 1954-55 season, and our problem is to decide whether the provisions of the contract should be cancelled as from September next or continue under its full provisions till the expiry of the' contract,” said the Minister. He added that New Zealand’s 15 years’ “free entry” contract would not be affected. Mr Holyoake said the delegation was already studying alternative methods of approach, and before its departure it would consult representatives of producer interests and of the trade. Arrangements would be made for a committee of the board to be constantly available in Wellington for discussions with the Government on matters referred to it by the delegation in Lon- “ Producers in New Zealand can be assured that the Government and the Meat Producers’ Board are fully alive to the importance of the problems confronting us,” he said. “They can be further assured that the decisions finally made will be arrived at only after full consultation and agreement with the industry.”