Meat industry defends prices

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 15

Meat industry defends prices

PA Wellington The Meat Industry Association has defended the recent controversial meat schedule against criticism from Federated Farmers. An Auckland official of Federated Farmers, Mr Stanley Philips, asserted that the new schedule offered by companies would “cost farmers more than 5100 million a year.” Replying, the chairman of the Meat Industry Association, Mr Joe Ryan, said this was wrong. “Mr Philips bases this wild allegation on two main points both of which do not withstand objective examination,” Mr Ryan said. “First, he makes an as-

sumption that there are further payouts due to farmers from the Meat Board above the basic payments already made. Mr Philips may be in for a disappointing surprise in that regard. “Second, he talks about expected improvements in values against the Meat Board prices because of ‘devaluation.’ If Mr Philips were to look at the facts he would find that the New Zealand dollar has revalued slightly against the United States dollar in the time since Meat Board prices were calculated. “On both counts, Mr Philips’ arithmetic is sadly astray and there is no validity in his extravagant and provocative statement,” Mr Ryan said.