'Iran got what it bought'

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33775, 22 February 1975, Page 18

'Iran got what it bought'

(.¥ Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 20.

Iranian buyers of : New Zealand sheep meat :had been supplied with exactly what they had< requested, said the chair-! man of the Meat Exporters’ Council (Mr IV. F. Leonard) today. But no more old ewe mutton would be sent, he said. He was replying to a state-i ! ment from the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Moyle), after the Minister visited Iran! earlier this week.

Mr Moyle said New Zealand’s reputation had suffered badly last year after selling a large quantity of old ewe mutton to Iran. The Iranians were not happy with the meat, and New Zealand

; would have to supply quality I meat in future. ‘SHOWN TYPES’ “The bulk of mutton sales! i'to Iran last vear took place' ibetween October, 1973, and! February, 1974,” said Mr I Leonard” | “Representatives of the! jlranian Government purchas-; ling agencies were shown the difference in quality between! !Y-grade lean lambs and ewe mutton while on visits to New

• Zealand, but chose to order < ! shipments of mutton because ; I of the price differential,” said;! .IMr Leonard. >i On the return of the Joint: ['Meat Exporters’ Council and!] •IMeat Board mission to the ; East in April, 1974, ! < :,firm recommendations were!] ■ made to the board and the ijcouncil on the development,! ilof further trade. j] L Among these was a call foril _a!l exporters to concentrate I

on the sale of YL and YM grade lambs to the region, IMr Leonard said. SIMILAR TYPE The report noted that these ! lean-graded lambs closely resembled the traditional tvpe of lamb prevalent in the 'Middle East. Since the return of the mission in May, 1974, very 'limited tonnages of mutton had been shipped to the Middle East.