EXPORT MEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 21, 24 July 1940, Page 10

EXPORT MEAT

BOARD IN IGNORANCE

NO ADVICE FROM BRITAIN

QUANTITY NEEDED

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

CAMBRIDGE, July 23

"It is very alarming to, me, I assure you," said Mr. T. A. Duncan, chairman of the New Zealand Meat Board, at a meeting of meat producers in Cambridge today, when referring to the fdct that as far as he knew no definite information had been received from the British Government as to what it required from. New Zealand in the way of meat products.". _ '

Mr. Duncan; said there was no certainty that /Great Britain would take all New Zealand's meat, and ewe mutton might be the first to be,discarded.

■"I have never seen the cablegram stating that the British Government had directly asked for more meat products from New Zealand," said' Mr. Duncan. "I am most perturbed about, the position, especially when I read in the Press , cablegrams today that • meat was not mentioned' in the list of produce regarded as imperative. E^en eggs were not mentioned. I am not even certain about that 10,000 extra tons of pork one has heard so much about. ..'..; ,

• "I feel .that the British: Government will not take any more meat from.us than she has taken in the past," continued Mr.' Duncan: "It is one of the things we will have. to clear up. It seems strange that the cablegrams have never been sent to our board, and it makes me doubtful about the matter. I have questioned the Controller of Produce, Mr. ..A. H. .Cockayne, repeatedly about the 'matter, and. all I can get from him is, 'It is no use asking the British Government what it wa"nts.'" ■ ■ " " ■ '•■•■.'

Mr. Duncan added that it was of no use. rushing into things like increased production unless definite, information was available as to whether the goods were required. At present there was no indication that shipping preference would be given to ■ any of New Zealand's meat products.

Mr. E. L. Tucker said the farmers were waiting for a lead and wanted to know what the British Government's requirement were. On' Mr. Tucker's motion it was unanimously resolved to ask the Meat Board to ascertain from the British Government. what its re;quirements were with respect to' New Zealand meat. .-....-