‘Future at risk’ by meat ban

Press, 17 November 1976, Page 3

‘Future at risk’ by meat ban

PA Tauranga ; Tire economic future of (New Zealand is being put in i jeopardy by the freezing | workers’ ban on loading i exports, says • the president (of the New Zealand Chamibers of Commerce (Mr F. T. I I Croft). The seriousness of the meat-loading ban — and its flow-on effect on the shipping of dairy products — reduced to insignificance the demands of any group or individual, he said. j “We cannot afford to lose the valuable minutes, hours, or days left to ensure that the ships waiting to carry our meat and butter reach their destinations in the United Kingdom and United States before the end of the year, only seven weeks away,” said Mr Croft. “We mist have the over seas income that this produce will earn, and the assurance of the maintenance of hardwon quotas in the future. “This is more important than any other consideration.” Mr Croft said that New, Zealand was already living beyond its means, and the possible loss of §4OM in dairy produce alone would make the situation worse. Employment and everyone’s standard of living would be affected because there would be even less overseas funds to buy the raw materials and goods needed if New Zealand fac-; tories were to maintain their! present production. “We must fulfill these

quotas, or risk having them cut.” he said. “If reasonable understanding of the seriousness of the situation cannot be accepted by those who are motivating the crisis, then the Government must act. There is no time left.”