EXPORT MEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1941, Page 6

EXPORT MEAT

OPENING PRICES

AGREEMENT WITH U.K.

MAXIMUM OF 275,000

TONS

Under the agreement entered into with the New Zealand Government, the United Kingdom Government will endeavour to lift 275,000 tons of meat from the Dominion this year and in subsequent war years. This information was given last night by the Minister of Marketing (Mr. Barclay), who also announced the opening schedule of prices to be paid by the meat buyers this season for meat produced for export. The opening schedule for lambs, wethers, and ewes is as follows:— Lambs — Prime Down cross 2's .... 23/361b B%d Ditto, B's '. 37/421b B%d Ditto, 4's 43/501b 6^d Ditto, tegs 51/561b s^4d Prinie Canterbury 2's . :.. . 23/361b B%d Ditto, S'a • 37/421b 7%d Ditto, 4> 43/501b 6%d Ditto, tegs 51/561b 5%d Prime crossbred 2's 23/361b 7%d Ditto, B's 37/421b 7%d Ditto, 4's 43/501b 6»,4d Ditto, tegs 51/561b 4%d Second quality, 36/U .... 23/361b 7%d Ditto, 0/36 37/581b ' 6%A Wethers — » Primes 4S/TI Ib ' od Ditto, 7's 49/561b 4%d Ditto, 3's 57/641b . 4%d . Ditto, 9's 65/721b 4d Ditto, s's 73/801b- 2V 2 d Seconds 56/Ulb 4%d Ditto 57/721b 3%d Ewes— 64/Ulb 2%d 65/721b 2%fi 73/801b , l%d In the case of lamb, the opening schedule for prime 2's is l-8d a Ib higher than last year, and for B's, 4's, and tegs the ' schedule is somewhat lower than last year. This adjustment has been made to encourge the slaughter of lighter weight animals, but the overall return for 2's and B's combined is approximately the same as last year. The present f.o.b. prices of the Marketing Department for quarter-beef, pork, and baconers will remain unchanged, and the existing conditions of purchase and sale will be continued. EXPORT EXCESS. Although it would be the endeavour of the United Kingdom Government to lift and purchase 275,000 tons of meat .during this year and subsequent years, Mr. Barclay, said that it must be the endeavour of the New Zealand meat industry to reduce the meat products available for export to the United Kingdom to a quantity not in excess of 275,000 tons. The United Kingdom Government had made It quite clear that under this agreement any production of Meat suitable for export, in excess of 275,000 tons was entirely New Zealand's responsibility. Though the United Kingdom. Government would, make every endeavour . to lift 275,000 tons, the quantity purchased would be that actually lifted in accordance with +he general surpluses agreement. The responsibility for the balance between the quantity actually lifted and the figure of 275,000 tons would be shared equally between the United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments in terms of the surpluses . agreement. . The United Kingdom Government had indicated that, the surpluses agreement would operate only in respect of the export production, commencing with this present season. That meant that the carry-over of 78,000 tons from last season was outside the ' agree-, ment, and at present was the entire responsibility of the New Zealand Government. The Government was asking for more favourable consideration . in^this respect, but at present it had/ received no indication of a change ia the viewpoint of the United Kingdom Government. . ' ~-,■ ■' '■ " Mr. Barclay said that careful assessments showed that the probable amount of meat. available for export this year would be not less than, and might exceed, 350,000 tons. Even after applying every possible economy, the net figure of frozen meat was still.approximately 40,000 tons in excess of the production objective and this quantity would automatically become the responsibility of New Zealand. INCREASED PRICES. While the implications of the new agreement were under discussion between the New Zealand Government and the Meat Board, Mr. Barclay added, unexpected advice was received from the United Kingdom Government that, as the result of thr completion of a meat purchase agreement with South American shippers, certain increases in export prices which had been granted to South America would automatically apply, to New Zealand and "Australia also. These increases were applicable.from October 1, 1941, and were as follows: —(a) On beef and beef offals, and lamb and lamb offals, 3-8 d per Ib sterling f.0.b.; (b) on mutton" and mutton offals, and pork and pork offals, -id per Ib sterling, io.b.; (c) baconer carcasses and baconer cuts, 3-8 d per Ib sterling, f.o.b. Mr. Barclay said that though the agreement between the two Governments necessitated considerable readjustment to the Dominion's export meat industry, it must be recognised as being fair and reasonable, and, above all, one which provided a stable basis on which the future economy of the industry could be planned and organised. "I am confident, provided no sudden emergency occurs,", concluded Mr. Barclay, "that • the total meat in store at September 1, 1942, will in no way overtax our storage capacity, and will enable killings to proceed in a reasonably orderly manner. Having regard to the inescapable difficulties of the war situation, we can, I think, freely acknowledge that the United Kingdom Government has met us very fairly indeed, and producers, with the backing of the undertaking I have announced, can face the third war production year with a measure of confidence."