Proposals On Meat Put To Govt.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 3

Proposals On Meat Put To Govt.

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 27. The Meat Producers’ Board, as the national statutory authority in meat marketing, has put to the Government its proposals for marketing arrangements which may become necessary if limitation is imposed on New Zealand meat in the United States or any other market.

Sir John Ormond, chairman of the board, told the electoral committee of the board today that the board would seek the full co-operation of meat export traders in arrangements it would make for supply to the United States under the new law affecting imports there. He also said it had been surprising that in Britain, whose great economic and political strength had been built On a tradition of liberal trading, there should be. so much thinking among Government officials today based on the arguments of theorists who proposed to restrict, control, and themselves dictate the flow and quantity and kind of food the people should eat. “It is our New Zealand producers’ chief mission in life to produce meat for the British housewife. It is raised and prepared to her requirements, and it has never been in stronger demand that it is today. Shortage In Britain

“It is easy to see how unfortunate it would have been, from everyone’s point of view, had we agreed to proposals from Whitehall earlier this year that we should limit the supply of our meat to Britain In the event, we have done our best to help to overcome the meat supply emergency. “Last year and even early this year, the theorists were again asking the Commonwealth to consider limiting our supnlies of meat. The result of these policies was that when a shortage developed at mid-year in Britain there was not enough reserve supply available. “Today a General Election campaign in Britain finds both parties speaking about common sense in meat marketing. The experience of this year will surely cause the next government in Britain, of whatever party, to pause before it pursues any policies of socalled ‘managed marketing’, involving restriction of our supply. The intrusion of the State in the complex mechanism of meat marketing has already caused confusion and distress enough. Long-term Agreements “It is surely clear that maintenance of healthy trading opportunity for the traditional Commonwealth • suppliers is as important to Britain, from the point of view of mutual trade, as it is to us. We can agree with those in Britain who today’ argue that long-term agreements with Commonwealth countries, sat-

isfactory to both sides and taking into account essential •economic and political factors, are necessary to ensure continuing supply and adequate growth. “We are at all times ready to have agreements to ensure supply. That enables us to plan ahead and to avoid instability,” Sir John Ormond said.

The committee adopted the following resolution:— “This electoral committee notes that the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board is the national statutory authority for export meat marketing and declares its full confidence in the board to devise and administer such marketing arrangements as may become necessary with any limitation of supply to the United States or any other market. The committee endorses the proposals already made by the board to the Government.”