SURPLUS MEAT STOCKS

Evening Star, Issue 23863, 18 April 1941, Page 3

SURPLUS MEAT STOCKS

PROBLEMS OF DISPOSAL DEFINITE POLICY VITAL So that the meat crisis may be alleviated, lamb-marking time next spring will be a time of slaughter as far as a percentage of the fort-night-old animals is concerned if the possibility envisaged by Mr H. M. Christie comes true. There was a danger in curtailing breeding, he pointed out, in that if breeding were reduced by a substantial proportion it might take five years of peace to build up the flocks again.

lie was speaking at the meeting of tlie Farmers’ Union yesterday afternoon, as the representative of the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. J. G. Barclay). The discussion occupied the major part of the afternoon, and the council members present demonstrated its importance to them by according it rapt attention. The Dominion president, Mr W. W. Mnlholland, opened the subject. Mr 11. S. Thompson was in the chair.

Allowing for the completion of the '210,000 tons storage space, of which the Minister had spoken, it was probable that this export season would end with the stores virtually full, Mr Mnlholland said. There would, therefore, bo only a very small amount of space available at the beginning of next season. The proposal to exclude certain classes of meat seemed a reasonable one; but from it arose the question; What was to be done with that meat? “ The usual reply to that inquiry,” lie said, “ is' that it could be canned or put down the shute. But there are no cans to put the meat in, there is no machinery to make cans, and there are no shutes to put the stock down. Ordinarily about (i.OOO tons is the canning output. Suppose that were doubled or trebled, it would still bo a long way short of coping with 100.000 tons. The difficulty of getting materials would make it very doubtful if facilities could be provided in time, even if an immediate start were made.”

MUST PLAN AHEAD. The two fundamental questions that had to be faced, he continued, were the maximum, quantity that could be taken into store, and, that having been decided, how to obtain the storage. Mr Mulholland said that his figure of 100,000 tons surplus was merely an estimate; but it served to show that the situation could not be met without the building of more storage. His opinion was that 60,000 tons more storage snace would be required next year. When these questions had been met, decisions would then have to be made on the basis of the estimated requirements so that the industry could be steered past destruction. Superimposed on the meat difficulties were the troubles of the dairy industry. It was obvious that a lot of butter would not be shipped, and it was equally obvious that the surplus would require storage space. And so the problem was intensified. “ I am protesting strongly against the Government’s lack of decision,” Mr Mulholland said. “It is doing something about canning certainly, but that can have little real bearing on the problem. We want a programme for at least two years ahead based on probabilities. The country must plan ahead.” He pleaded for a realisation of the urgency in getting on with the job. As things were, the possibility of having to place restrictions on dairy produce also could be visualised. A FALSE SCENT. “ Wo will not destroy any food.” That statement had been made, and Mi ■listers of the Crown had repeated it. Statements such a.s that tended to put the public on a false scent. The food would have to be destroyed. Actually it was not food. It was not available as food to anybody. It was simply material *whioh had to be handled in the most economic way possible. If provision were not made for it and it were left on the farm, then, it would be destroyed indeed, or, worse, it would hinder the production of more valuable material.

Destruction of food was not in question. Millions of rabbits were destroyed every year and left to rot and nobody complained. It was now too late to do anything about curbing the natural increase. MAINTENANCE OF INCOME. One of the first essentials for the Government to consider was the maintenance of productive capacity. Every farmer would agree with him that to do that the income level of the farmer must be kept up. That was a fact which the Government should consider fundamental—a determining factor in safeguarding the future. It would enable the farmer to take up full pre-war production immediately the present emergency was passed. Then the need for food in all European countries would be very desperate. It was the opinion of Mr James Begg that what improvement in shipping there would be after the war would not he rapid enough to deal with the mounting stocks. Inferior moat should be boiled down as rapidly as possible. Over a million ewes were in store, and these should be treated in the off season to make room for prime meat next year. Provided this was done, and provided that the New Zealand shipping position deteriorated no further, it would he possible next year to handle all the prime lamb, prime wether, and prime ox beef.

No change in the Government poliev bad been announced as yet, continued Mr Bcgg, The fanner was still being asked to produce more and more. An .announcement now would come too late »:o have much effect on farm policy, for next year’s programme was already planned. Between 10 and 13 million sheep would have to be disposed of then, and be considered that do.strnc(ion of tho meat in store should be undertaken without delay. TIME FOR ACTION. The present was no time for juggling with words, said Mr Christie. The Government was in the same position as everyone else. It was dealing with the situation to the best of its ability, while the hand of its opponent was not disclosed. At the same time, it was extremely dangerous not to assume certain things, and a definite policy was essential at the moment. Up till to-day, however, not much could have been done in tho matter of the disposal of meat. Any “ eat-more-meat ” campaign might dispose of a certain quantity of the 225,000 tons that would be in store at the end of the year, but in his opinion the limit would he from 8.000 to 10,000 tons. In regard to canning, tho Government was endeavouring to got a firm contract with Groat Britain. “Wo got into great trouble with pigs because we had no clear statement from the Government of Great Britain,” he said, “ and we don’t want

to make arrangements for canning without having a specific contract. Mutton is definitely not in demand in Continental countries. We have a good market in Britain alone.” He suggested that all storage in the course ot erection should be completed. “ There has been some dilatoriness there,” he continued. “ Investigation should be made as to whether space for another 40,000 tons should be provided, but I think that’s the limit.” Ho gave figures to show that if more than that was put in store, it would be impossible to lift it all after the war.

Indirectly, he answered statements made by Mr Begg. “ People believe that after the war there will be a terrific demand for foodstuffs and all sorts of goods from Europe. After the last war that was believed, hut nations wore just not in a position to buy. AA’hile some international arrangement will almost undoubtedly he made to alleviate their wants, a good price cannot be expected. It is further a fact that Europeans will undergo near-staryation to put themselves on a sound economic basis again.” RESOLUTION PASSED. After a long and detailed discussion, the meeting decided to send the following telegram on the subject of the killing restriction to the Prime Minister :—- Killing restrictions are resulting in a serious situation for highcountry farmers, who, owing to climatic conditions, must remove all fat stock before the weather breaks. This stock will not settle on low country, and is quite unsuitable for winter fattening. AVe urge the immediate removal of restrictions uipon this class of stock in Otago and Southland. The executive undertakes to ensure that only annual drafts from the country mentioned are accepted for killing under the requested preference. AVith regard to stock in areas other than those specified, if the Government cannot see its way to accept for freezing all fat sheep offering up to 721 b, we would urge that the widest possible margin in weight be allowed for the balance of the season. The following remit from the Dunstan branch was also carried:—“ That in view of the inability to carry out its promise to buy all surplus fat stock this season, the Government be requested to give an early indication of its policy with regard to next season’s purchase of fat stock.”