FOOD FOR BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1941, Page 7

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

WORK OF N.Z. MISSION

SPIRIT OF DISCUSSION

"UTMOST ASSISTANCE"

An outline of the discussions between the Ministerial missions to the United Kingdom and the United States and Canada and the United Kingdom and American Governments was given by Mr. G. A. Duncan, Director of Export Marketing, to delegates attending the Dominion Dairy Conference yesterday. Mr. Duncan said that he had been asked by the Government to proceed to America with Mr. L^ngstone to inquire into possibilities of shipment to that country and to Canada of surplus meat and butter, and then to proceed to the United Kingdom, arriving at the same time as the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) to take part in discussions with the Ministries of Food, Shipping, and Economic Warfare in regard to sale of export products, shipments and surplus. New Zealand products for the period of the war. The United States, said Mr. Duncan, was self-supporting in butter and cheese; both imports and exports were small. Butter consumption amounted to about 171b a head a year, as compared with 241b in the United Kingdom, 301b in Australia and Canada, and 401b in New Zealand. The possibilities of development of a market for butter there were overshadowed by two diffir culties: shipping and tariffs. Under present shipping conditions it was impossible to push the sale of butter, notwithstanding that prices in U.S.A. were nearing the point at which the presents heavy duty could be absorbed, but it was a possibility that more favourable arrangements might be made, thus opening up distinct opportunities for trade, when shipping became available. "I am unable to say any more about this aspect because the discussions are at present proceeding. The outlook is distinctly hopeful." said Mr, Duncan. "I found a readiness in the U.S.A. to discuss trade development, and a realisation that in 'the post-war scheme of things there should be room for expansion of trade between Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.A. With a more favourable tariff basis, 1 consider a growing market for our butter could be developed." SHIPPING THE MAJOR PROBLEM. Canadian butter production was likely to be sufficient for requirements, and, summed up. the position appeared to him that the development of any considerable market was dependent on the securing of additional refrigerated ships; present and paramount war needs had necessitated the transfer of ships to the Atlantic, and there were no refrigerated ships available to take their place, but the situation was being closely watched, Meanwhile investigation was proceeding into the processing of butter, into pure butterfat, which could be carried as ordinary cargo, and into carriage of butter at "chilled" temperatures. The aim of the discussions in the United Kingdom had been to establish a basis of annual production of cheese, butter, and meat for the perild of the war and one year thereafter? so that farmers and the Government could plan for the future with some degree Of certainty That aim. said Mr. Duncan, was achie zed, though there had first been a disposition on the part of the Ministry of Food to make a contract for the third, year of the war only. RESEARCH WORK. The Director Uso gave some details of experiment and vesearch into alternative processing methods and methods of saving shipping > space—conversion of butter into pure butterfat, processing and shipment of dried m^t. and fibre board butter boxes. If such boxes could be used, the total saving would represent about 9000 tons extra space, and in addition that type of box would occupy 10 per cent, less space in stores and ships. Trial shipments of cheese in non-refrigerated space had beon sent, with success in some cases, partial success in others.