New bill to allow live sheep export

Press, 20 September 1985, Page 4

New bill to allow live sheep export

PA Wellington The Opposition is trying to put pressure on the Government to allow the export of live sheep by again bringing a private member’s bill before Parliament. The move follows up the announcement that the Aus-tralian-based Elders group wants to send live New Zealand ram lambs to the Middle East. Three shipments of old ewes were exported to the Middle East in 1975, but they ran into criticism from animal welfare groups and waterside unions upset

about the condition of the animals. The Acting Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, said a private member’s bill would be brought before Parliament within the next few days. The Opposition associate spokesman on agriculture (meat and wool), Mr Denis Marshall, tried to introduce a similar bill last year, but the Government used its majority to stop it proceeding through Parliament. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle, is holding discussions with officials of his Ministry, Federated Farmers, and affected trade

unions before he makes any comment on the latest proposal. Mr Bolger, however, told a post-caucus press conference that it was wrong that the market opportunity now being suggested by commercial interests should be ignored at a time when farmers were facing a dramatic drop in the price they would get from the meat export industry. Asked why National had not changed the law to allow live sheep exports when in government, Mr Bolger said National had kept sheepfarming profitable.