SURPLUS SUPPLIES OF MUTTON

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 250, 20 July 1939, Page 5

SURPLUS SUPPLIES OF MUTTON

Concern Expressed

MEAT BOARD TO BE ASKED FOR INFORMATION About 1,900,000 careases of mutton will be carried over next year because of the three per cent, restriction on exports, according to Mr. C., L. Orbell, who at a meeting of the Timaru A. and P. Association, expressed concern at the serious effect this; will have on farmers throughout the country. The meeting carried his resolution calling on the Meat Board to advise farmers of the steps being taken to meet the problem and to submit periodical reports of the supplies of mutton on hand. Mr. Orbell complained that the farmers were at a loss in buying old ewes at stock sales and with dealing in old fat ewes. What was required was a monthly report from the Meat Board on the amount of stock held in New Zealand and the success that was being niet with in disposing of the surplus. ‘"The matter is one on which farmers should be kept well informed/’ lie said. “Nobody seems to know what the carry-over will.be this year.” He had been told that the Meat Board itself had little idea, but the carry-over yvas estimated to be anything up to 1,000.000' carcases. Disappointment that the Meat Board did not giye more consideration to the publicity side of meat production was expressed by Mr. H. B. S. Johnstone. He believed the board did much valuable work, but he suggested they should make greater use of publicity. So excellent was the publicity work in England that it was being copied by Australia and the Argentine in an endeavour to secure the trade gained for New Zealand by the Meat Board. , It was his opinion that the board was keeping too much from the farmers. If it ""would come out into the open it would get the farmers behind lt ’lt was decided to ask the board to supply the farmers with monthly reports of the amount of lamb and mutton held in New Zealand and what success was being had in dealing,with surplus mutton.