Curbs On Meat Imports “Must Be Resisted”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 12

Curbs On Meat Imports “Must Be Resisted”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 10.

Any restraint of opportunity of selling in the United Kingdom, the world’s only really large market for meat, must be resisted by New Zealand with all the resources available, said the acting president of Federated Farmers (Mr P. S. Plummer) in a statement tonight.

“It should be clearly recognised that the British Government’s proposals, which would restrict imports of meat into the United Kingdom, constitute a grave danger to the New Zealand economy,” he said.

It was misleading to suggest there was a precedent in what had been done in the dairy industry. The two situations were not comparable, said Mr Plummer.

There appeared to be some confused thinking abroad about the New Zealand attitude towards the proposals put forward by the British Minister of Agriculture (Mr Soames). “Make no mistake abou’ it.” said Mr Plummer. "These oroposals are a very real danger to our whole economy —equally as grave as any oosed during the E.E.C. discussion.

“We have no need to regard such action against us as inevitable The restriction Ist proposals are certainly not in accord with the interest of the British housewife, nor in the real interests of United Kingdom agriculture, and they are being opposed by the meat trade in the United Kingdom and influential sections of the press there.

“When the British people discover what is really involved in this restricted, import, higher-cost meat plan they will be very unhappy indeed about the effect it must have on the family budget “Mr Soames has presented his proposals in a language which could be seductive to some people, but in the international meat trade it is necessary to have regard for practical essentials. New Zealand depends upon the sheep farming industry -for twothirds of every pound we earn from exports.” he said

The sale of lamb, mutton and beef from our sheep farms ,was a vital part of thtcountry’s industry, he said New Zealand was the only country in the world depending substantially on meat ex oorts for her present ind future prosperity and the

United Kingdom was the only really large importing country. “We are. and will continue to be, the largest supplier of meat to Britain, and it is we who would be called upon to bear the brunt of any policy of restriction. We supply 43 per cent, of Britain’s total meat imports and 85 per cent. ot her imports of mutton and lamb.

"The great consumer interest in lamb and mutton is in large measure the result of dur work in supply and promotion. The future of our country depends to a great extent on continued opportunity to develop our trade into Britain where the capacity of the meat market to expand its consumption at payable price l, is very great. “We do, of course, have the existing agreement with the British Government of permitting entry until 1967. though we have no preferential treatment whatever for ur lamb and mutton in the British market. The question at issue is whether the British Government will institute restriction of opportunity for continued expansion of our market after 1967.’’ he said. “Strong Demand” “The demand for our lamb and mutton is .very strong indeed in the United Kingdom There is no condition of over-supply and the capacity to expand is undoubtedly there. “Mr Soames’s proposal would involve restrictions which would not only limit the volume of meat imports but eventually have the effect of increasing prices to the housewife. “We who are the largest exporters of meat into Britain are also the most economic producers Our interest will be far better served by maintaining our access to these markets in which our best customers reside "Thebe is no substitute anywhere in the world for loss of opportunity to expand sales of lamb in the United

Kingdom. Other markets are. o f course, being developed but anyone who understands the nature of the world meat trade knows that restraint of opportunity to expand sales in Britain would be a crippling blow to New Zealand." said Mr Plummer. ‘‘There is one school of thought which apparently believes that we should regard action against us as inevitable During the EEC. argument. the people of Britain glimpsed the realities involved in any attempt to erect barriers to the flow of our high quality produce to the British housewife." he said "Equally, it should be clear to us that to allow ourselves to be seduced by ideas of higher price for limited opportunity would be folly indeed.

"We must maintain the strong position and Arm attitude which we have held over the last several years in our discussions with the British Government concerning the future of meat marketing We must make it clear that if restraint of our capacity to sell in Britain were introduced we would inevitably have to turn elsewhere to a considerable extent for the purchases this country makes from Britain. ‘‘l can see no valid reason why we should' restrict the growth of trade between the tw countries." said Mr Plummer