Confidence in meat

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 2

Confidence in meat

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 23. Confidence in the future of the meat industry was expressed today by the chairman of the Meat Board (Sir John Ormond) addressing the electoral committee. He cited figures to show the mounting tonnages of meat exports and rising prices, and said the board could say strongly, “We need Store meat. We know more meat can be sold.” All the meat New Zealand had -produced over a long period of years had been sold, generally at improving prices, Sir John Ormond said. He quoted figures for sales and earnings to prove that New Zealand’s meat marketing situation was exception-

ally strong, and that national reliance on the meat producer had never been higher. Export meat tonnage had risen from 533,000 for the season ended September, 1967, to 666,000 for the corresponding period in 1969-70. In the same period receipts from export meat and byproducts had increased from $275m to sso3m. These figures showed an increase in the value of a single ton from $515 to $755. “In 1966 the meat producer was responsible for nearly 35 per cent of this country’s overseas earnings, while in 1970 he increased his contribution to more than 43 per cent,” Sir John Ormond said. “Unfortunately, falling returns from wool and higher costs, mainly internal, have meant the producer has not had the full benefit.” The quickly rising income from meat had been the most important single factor con-

tributing to a good standard of living over the whole country, he said. Sir John Ormond emphasised that expansion of production was needed in both beef and lamb, but not of beef at the expense of lamb. New Zealand schedule prices for beef were largely dependent on the good prices obtained in the United States and to a lesser extent in Canada.

The voluntary quota agreement limited the amount that could be exported to the United States. “We would like a bigger tonnage to this market, but are faced by strong opposition from the American cattlemen’s lobby,” he said.

Any additional New Zealand beef production would have to go elsewhere at lower prices, with the possible effect of reducing the schedule average, Sir John Ormond said. -