MEAT FOR ILK.

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1941, Page 10

MEAT FOR ILK.

MORE TO BE TAKEN

248,000 TONS THIS YEAR

x SURPLUS STILL A PROBLEM

More meat than the United Kingdom Government at one stage considered could be shipped and purchased is to be taken from New Zealand within the production year ending September 30 next. In making this announcement today, the Minister of 'Marketing (Mr. Barclay) said that the contract was for 248,000 tons, which, although well below the quantity contracted for during the first year of the war, was substantially greater than the quantity proposed at one stage of the negotiations. The disposal of the surplus over and above the contract would still present a major problem, but the matter was still being discussed with the United Kingdom Government and it was also hoped that the expansion of canning facilities would help materially in this connection. The Minister said that the meat contract between the United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments for the current season had been completed. In this contract, the United Kingdom Government had agreed to purchase 248,000 tons of meat within the production year ending September 30, 1941. This quantity was considerably below the figure of 300,000 tons contracted for during the first year of the war, but was substantially above the quantity of 180,000 which at one stage was the maximum the United Kingdom Government considered could be shipped and purchased during the present year. AUSTRALIA'S CONTRACT. • "This contract secured by New Zealand for 248,000 tons," saifl the Minister, "is comparable with Australia's contract figure of 198,000 tons, but in order to make the position quite" clear, it should be emphasised that these contract quantities as they relate to both countries are not necessarily identical with the actual, quantities of meat which will be shipped to the end of the present year. It can be definitely stated, however, that the Australian contract of 198,000 tons represents the same proportional reduction from their previous contract as" in the case of New Zealand, and there is no suggestion that Australia will ship a greater proportion of their meat to the United Kingdom than will New Zealand. "In regard to both countries, the attitude of the United Kingdom^ Government throughout the year has been to lift all the meat that was humanly possible under the circumstances, and at all times an equitable ratio was being maintained." l SURPLUS MEAT. The Minister concluded by saying that, although the New Zealand Government was pleased to have completed a definite contract with the United Kingdom Government covering the present year, the surplus quantity of meat over and above the contract quantity would still present a major problem which this Dominion would have to face. In this respect negotiations were continuing with the United Kingdom Government, and it was also hoped that the development of New Zealand canning facilities would greatly assist in' utilising the various classes of meat which could not be shipped in the usual manner. ■ j