Effect On N.Z. Produce

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32361, 29 July 1970, Page 17

Effect On N.Z. Produce

'N.Z P.A. Stag Correspondent)

LONDON, July 28.

Supplies of New Zealand produce are still available in British stores, in spite of the docks strike.

In the case of butter, cheese and apples, prices are still at pre-strike levels, but lamb prices have risen by as much as Is per lb. The Dairy Board is still keeping the market fully supplied with butter and cheese, and is even making up shortfalls caused by the non-deli-very of some butter from the Common Market countries. Just how long the board can continue to keep supplies going is a trade secret,

but fears that some stores in which New Zealand butter is stockpiled might run dry have not materialised, and supplies should last for at least a three weeks, probably longer. The lamb position is different Supplies are shorter—there was only about a month’s supply in stock when the strike began—and because the market is being managed by price. The New Zealand fanner will not see any of this extra retail price of lamb in the short term. In the long term, however, the extra profitability the meat trade is enjoying will aid the return the New Zealand farmer receives from that quarter. When the strike began there was about 28,000 tons of New Zealand lamb in Britain—a month’s supply at normal prices; but price management should stretch this supply to six weeks or more.

The price of New Zealand apples has not risen since the strike. There was a brief upward trend at Covent Garden last week, but the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Prior) told

housewives to “shop round,” and they appear to have taken his advice. The price of New Zealand apples today is down to about the level it was when the strike began, and the present price for Granny Smiths, of 2s 4d per lb, is lower than it was at this time last year.

When the strike began there were six shipments of the season’s apples still to reach Britain. Of these, three vessels are now at Continental ports, and the apples are selling in Europe at less than they would have realised in Britain.

The three shipments tied up in British ports are dependent on the strike ending soon, because fresh new season British apples will be on the market in about three weeks.