Minister Chides U.S. On Meat Policy

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31941, 19 March 1969, Page 26

Minister Chides U.S. On Meat Policy

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 18.

The Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) said today that “short-sighted policies” of the United States Government limited the consumption of New Zealand meat.

He told Hawke’s Bay beef producers in Hastings today that the Government was constantly engaged in negotiations designed to open the door to New Zealand farm products in the face of agricultural protectionism.

really interested in our farming industry. "It should not be necessary to ask such a question, because the answer is so obvious that I think there are very few New Zealanders today who do not realise the vital role played by our farm product exports.” The Minister said that In this respect New Zealand was likely to remain unique—an affluent Western-style country getting the main part of its wealth from primary products going into international trade. Future Prospects “it is for this reason that the Government has made it clear that whatever financial restrictions may be imposed, finance will be available for the creditworthy farmer, even at a time of financial stringency." Mr Muldoon said projections carried out by international organisations for the future prospects of agricultural marketing—such as the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development—showed that the picture for beef exports was encouraging. The Minister said he was aware that it was one thing to say there would be a demand for beef at good prices and quite another thing to integrate beef production into established farm patterns on a new and increased basis. Dairy Beef “Equally, there are many controversial aspects of increasing beef production, particularly in the field of dairy beef,” he said. There was no doubt that there was a great deal to be learned by investigation, research and even by trial and error, but the overseas projections on increased beef demand made it clear that this was a path along which New Zealand farmers should travel, said the Minister.

“While we can understand the political difficulties of the American Administration, we can only express disappointment that short-sighted policies limit the consumption of New Zealand meat, which in most cases is complementary to rather than competitive with the American product.”

Administration that if we are going to continue to purchase American products such as aircraft, in competition with the rest of the world, then it is reasonable to expect free competition for our products in return.” The Minister told the farmers that a National Government would always make sure that finance was available to the creditworthy farmer even at a time of financial stringency. He said: “I have sometimes heard farmers ask—when faced with some of the less pleasant aspects of administration such as taxation, death duties, and the like—whether the Government is

“This Is an area where our efforts must continue," said Mr Muldoon. “We must now attempt to < persuade a new American ■