MARKETING REGULATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 21784, 28 July 1934, Page 3

MARKETING REGULATIONS

GOVERNMENT ACCEPTANCE ANNOUNCED OTTAWA LAMB AND MUTTON RUOTAS HOT EXCEEDED [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 27. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr C. E. Macmillan), in a statement m the House of Representatives this afternoon, said the new marketing regulations arranged between the Dairy Board and the Importers’ Association in England lately had been under consideration and discussion with the board, with particular reference to that portion of them dealing with f.o.b. sales. Having regard to the fact that some difference of opinion had existed regarding this question of f.o.b. sales, and that the intention was that the regulations should become operative on and after August 1, the Dairy Industry Commission bad made a special inquiry into it, and had advised that, in its opinion, the regulations should become operative as proposed. With this opinion the Government concurred. , , , , Mr Macmillan further stated that thc statement recently made by the ‘ SunHerald ’ and cabled to the New Zea-. land Dress that New Zealand had exceeded the Ottawa figures in the meat exports to the United Kingdom, particularly with respect to mutton and lamb, was erroneous. The Ottawa figures were based on imports into Great Britain for the twelve months from July 1, 1931, to June 30, 1932, and so far as New Zealand mutton and lamb were concerned these amounted to 1915,415* tons. During the. period from July 1, 1932, and June 30. 1933, the twelve mouths following the Ottawa vear, the New Zealand arrivals of mutton and lamb to the United Kingdom amounted to 188,692 tons, and from July 1, 1933, to April 30, 1934, a period of ten months, they amounted to 141,069 tons. The arrivals during the two months, May and June of 1934, were estimated as having been not more than 42,000 tons, and possibly less, making a tonnage of lamb for the twelve months of 184,000, compared with the Ottawa year 195,418, a decrease of 114,000 tons. These figures, except the estimate last mentioned, were from the English publication ‘Trade and Navigation.’ which was published under the authority of the Minister in charge of the Board of Trade in England. It was certainly true that with regard to certain other classes of meat our exports had exceeded the Ottawa figures, but it was a serious mis-statement to say that mutton and lamb exports had increased since the period on which the Ottawa figures were based.