P.P.C.S. suppliers to get at least schedule

Press, 30 August 1980, Page 19

P.P.C.S. suppliers to get at least schedule

Suppliers of all lambs and sheep in the 1979-80 season and of cattle up to the end of June were now assured 1 of receiving at least the full export schedule, the chairman of the Primary Producers’ Cooperative Society, Mr T. McCristell, said this week. This followed confirmation by the society’s board that the 10 per cent retained from schedule on the 1979-80 lamb and mutton pools and also the No. 1 cattle pool for the period from January 1 to June 28 would be paid to suppliers on October 17. Details of any final payment confirmed at the October meeting of the board should accompany this payment. In a statement Mr McCristell said that sales had progressed satisfactorily. for the year to date, with an ever-increasing emphasis on direct selling into the various international markets available to the society. Because of the board’s concern ab.out the political position in Iran, the delivery of I lambs to the Middle East was Ispread between Jordan, Iraq

and Iran to lessen the catastrophic effects that the failure of one of these markets would have on the society’s suppliers. As well ’as supplying substantial quantities of mutton to Russia, Mr McCristell said that the society had entered the Egyptian trade on a direct basis. A recent shipmutton to Egypt had been ment of 1500 tonnes of made utilising international connections of the society. This was a further endeavour to reduce the substantial number of middle men who were in so many world markets today and who had the effect of reducing the' price that could be paid to the New Zealand farmer.

Beef trading had been profitable because .of the society’s market spread, said Mr McCristell. The irrational fluctuations on the United States market had made trading very difficult and . because of this stocks of beef were higher than would otherwise have been the case. However, sales at the moment were continuing at a profitable level.