18 agents authorised by Meat Board

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32774, 26 November 1971, Page 1

18 agents authorised by Meat Board

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 25. 1 “The New Zealand Meat Board has so far authorised 18 licensed meat exporters to act as its accredited agents in buying and marketing lamb” said a board spokesman today. “Further applications are pending, but the total number is unlikely to exceed 25.”

All applicants had provided the board with background information on their method of marketing, both in Britain, and other areas of the world. Where the board had been satisfied with the details supplied and the exporter had shown that in previous seasons it was the owner at time of slaughter of at least 100,000 lambs in a full export season, authorisation had been granted, the spokesman said.

Details of arrangements for buying and marketing of board-owned lamb are as follows: The agency agreement which the board has with its authorised agents may be terminated at seven days notice if performance is found unsatisfactory. In marketing the board’s lamb, agents will supply the board regularly with details of their operations. The board will have full right of access to all documents concerning the disposal of the lamb. Agents are also required to obtain the board's B'ssion before selling -owned lambs in markets outside Britain to other exporters, or before entering into any contract for forward sale in Britain or elsewhere. MINIMUM DISRUPTION This method involved the minimum disruption to the existing buying and marketing process, but at the same

time allowed the board to exercise control over its lamb marketing, the spokesman said. “Agents will be paid all normal handling costs, but are not expected to make a profit unless there is an improvement on present efficiency.

“Farmers will continue to deal with their normal lambbuying agencies,” he said. About 600,000 lambs—about 40 per cent of export lamb production—nave passed into the board's ownership since it announced that ,it would buy and market lambs this season where meat companies could not match the board's price.

The spokesman pointed out that the board had decided to become involved in marketing because of low schedule prices being offered by exporters at the beginning of the season.