“No Marketing Proposition”

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30947, 31 December 1965, Page 14

“No Marketing Proposition”

(N.Z. Press Association)

HAMILTON, Dec. 30. It was obvious that the Government and the Meat Board had no fair proposition to put to the farmer on diversified marketing for lamb, Mr M. Hewitt, president of Waikato Federated Farmers, said today.

He said he was “not happy” about a reply from the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) and Sir John Ormond, chairman of the Meat Board, who were invited to meet fanners at Ruakura on February 7. Both had replied that they would be quite happy to attend, but would prefer to wait until they had had an opportunity for further study and discussion.

“If they are not prepared to put their case to the farmers now, 1 cannot see much progress being made in later discussion,” Mr Hewitt said. “I cannot understand what the situation is between the Government and the Meat Board.

“I was under the impression that they had a firm proposition to put to the farmers, but it now seems obvious they haven’t.” The reply by Sir John Ormond and the Minister would be discussed by the Meat and Wool Council of Federated Farmers, said Mr Hewitt.

“But one thing is sure. The final discussions to be held between the Meat Board and the Electoral College on March 3 cannot be put off. “Whatever case is made it will have to be brought back for consideration by the farmers, but unless some

firm proposition is put forward by the Government it will be impossible to come to any decision.” Mr Hewitt said he did not think the farmer would consider a levy in any shape or form unless the Government agreed to some sort of national contribution to the lamb marketing diversification scheme.

“I think the present scheme of payment from the Meat Industry Reserve Account would be satisfactory if it is on a recouping basis,” he said. Mr Hewitt said losses from the account, at present being used to pay for the marketing scheme, should be recouped if, and when, profits from the undertaking were available.