MEAT CRISIS

Evening Star, Issue 23832, 12 March 1941, Page 5

MEAT CRISIS

SHIPPING DIFFICULTIES GROW PRODUCTION POLICY WANTED AMERICAN AID BILL MAY RELIEVE SITUATION [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 12. Concern at the meat situation and the delay of the Government m announcing the policy it intended to adopt during the coining production season was expressed by Mr Poison in a letter sent on March 7 to the Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay. Mr Poison said the meat question ranked next in national importance to the war, and should be considered from this national angle. No reply to his letter had been received by Mr Poison last night, and ihis object in handing the letter to the Press was to let the farmers know the facts. He felt strongly that they shondl know the seriousness of the position.

In the course of his letter Mr Poison states that he was assured that further storage of meat was possible, and that equipment could be procured for it; also that, with the passing of the Lease and Lend Bill by the United States, the shipping position was not entirely hopeless, and at a later date it might even be possible to dispose of all the meat in store.

He believed it was New Zealand’s duty to store as much meat as possible, and in any case the producers must be protected against bankruptcy. They must be paid for what meat was in store after September 30. He hoped the Government would make an early decision, for already the farmers had mated their flocks and were setting out on plans for next year’s production. _ Commenting on the prospects of shipping for New Zealand meat products to Engand, the Minister of Marketing stated that the shipping position had deteriorated. Negotiations were continuing between the Government and the producers on problems associated with production, he said, and further conferences would be held towards the end of the week.

“ We are practically agreed on certain principles, and the details to implement the Government’s proposals are being worked out,” said Mr Barclay.

“ In this meat crisis—and it is a crisis—the assistance from the Rress has been commendable. Naturally questions of what is likely to happen have been in everbody’s mind while negotiations have been going on between the British and New Zealand Governments.”