Rise in beef quota welcome

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32862, 10 March 1972, Page 1

Rise in beef quota welcome

(New Zealand Preu Aeeociation;

WELLINGTON, March 9. The United States has agreed to a 12 per cent increase in the beef allocation for New Zealand in 1972 over the volume initially negotiated last year.

This was announced today by the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Taiboys). New Zealand would have the opportunity to ship 112,000 tons (250.9 million lb) of beef, veal and mutton to the United States this year.

This figure represented an increase of 7500 tons or 12 per cent over that initially negotiated for 1971, although New Zealand was allowed to ship more last year because Australian supplies fell short. The total permissible level

of United States imports of beef, veal and mutton from all sources this year is 553,550 tons compared with an initial level last year of 516,250 tons, an increase of 6.9 per cent. Federated Farmers welcomed the 7 per cent increase, said the chairman of the meat and wool section of Federated Farmers, Mr Bruce Dryden. “Providing United States beef prices remain firm, the new quota level will instil greater confidence among our beef producers who have been increasing production rapidly over the last few years.

“As a result of the increased quota, our meat producers will be able to contribute about another $lO million to New Zealand’s export earnings,” said Mr Dryden.