Live option sought

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 18

Live option sought

There should be no restrictions on export of live sheep for human consumption. That was the view of the annual conference of the meat and wool section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers last week. A remit to this effect was passed without opposition after it was put forward by Mr J. B. Morten, representing the Sheffield branch of the federation. Earlier the chairman of the Meat Board Mr A. M. Begg, had said that he did not see a great potential in the export of live animals, except perhaps on odd occasions. In fact it was his

prediction that the live animal trade would decline as there was wider acceptance in the Middle East of Australian and New Zealand slaughtering techniques to comply with their religious requirements. However, Mr Morten said that they wanted another alternative or option to be available if it should be attractive. He did not. see why they should bow down to union pressure on this issue — the Meat Workers’ Union is opposed to the export of live sheep because it reduces the amount of . work available to meat workers in this country.

Mr P. G. Morrison, a member of the electoral committee of the Meat and Wool Boards, said that where an exporter was prepared to pay more for stock for export alive than for processing then the producer should be able to avail himself of that extra return. But Mr B. H. Palmer, a co-opted member and former chairman of the section, said that the farmer might get more but New Zealand -would get less.; Mr Morrison: ‘Mr Kennedy (the secretary of the Meat Workers’ Union) uses the same story.”