PORK EXPORT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 11

PORK EXPORT

FEEIGHT EEFUND ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCER The Government has decided, as a means of financially assisting producerexporters of pork, to make a refund of id per pound weight on the overseas J freight on all piga weighing from COlb to 1801b exported to Great Britain. This is to have effect between Ist February and 31st October next. Since the announcement of the Prime Minister that the Government intended to give a subsidy, many discussions have taken place with a view to determining how to afford assistance which will directly benefit the producers, whom it is desired to assist, without also benefiting others indirectly concerned in the export business. The decision of the Government was announced last evening in the following statement issued by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. Q. J. Hawken): "The Government has given a great deal of thought to the question of the best method of utilising the. amount of money available for the purpose, and has earnestly, considered a number of schemes, that have been advocated by different sections of those interested. None of these suggestions has, however, stood the test' of examination from every point of view. - "It was the desire of the Government that the producer should actually receive the bonus direct, but on investigation it was found that this would involve a complicated method of administration and expense, which would not be warranted. It has now been decided that the most practical and satisfactory, way of handling the matter is to grant a refund of one halfj penny per pound weight on the oversea freight on all pigs weighing from 60 to 1801b exported to Great- Britain. The refund will apply only to pigs killed from Ist February to 31st October next, and afterwards exported to the United Kingdom. Payments will be made to exporters after receipt of monthly claims showing the number of pigs exported and the weights, each claim to be supported by a statutory declaration that all the pigs covered by it were slaughtered not earlier than' Ist February, 1928, and were exported to Europe and were within the weights specified. This arrangement will, as already mentioned, apply only until 31st October next. "It is thought that the method of rebate on freight outlined above will materially assist in building up the trade in the export of pork. Further consideration in the light of this year's experience will later on be given, to the method of payment of the bonus, with a view to applying it to the best advantage during the two following seasons."