PURCHASE OF MEAT

Franklin Times, Volume XXX, Issue 90, 15 August 1941, Page 3

PURCHASE OF MEAT

FARMERS’ COMPLAINT MINISTER IN REPLY UNDERTAKING KEPT “If the Otago “branch of the Fanners’ Union cannot accept the undertakings given by (he Government to Ihe meat industry, I suggest that they are at liberty to take a referendum of all farmers in the district to ascertain whether the majority are in favour of accepting the Government’s undertaking or would prefer to produce without any guarantee of purchase,” said the Minister of Marketing (Mr Barclay), when replying to a statement made by Mr Cockburn, president of the Olago Provincial Council of the Farmers’ Union, in which he said that no notice would be taken in future of the Government’s promises and that such promises would not he regarded as genuine unless they were made in writing.

“If it can be proved in this way that the Olago branch speaks for the farmers of its district, I shall he only 100 pleased to recommend to Cabinet the necessary arrangements excluding Otago from any Government undertaking in respect of the purchase of meat for Hie coming season.”

Tiie Minister said that the Government had made a clear statement in July, 1940, that it would undertake lo purchase the normal exportable surplus of meat products available during the present production year, irrespective of whether this meat was finally sold or shipped to the United Kingdom. In Southland and Otago districts, the following were Ihe details of actual export killings at Burnside, South Otago, Mataura, Makarewa, and Ocean Beacli works at July 31, 1941, as compared with the same period last year: 1940-41. 2,360,824 carcasses; 1939-40, 2,437,079, an increase of 123,745 carcases.

"As the above ligu”es show,” said Mr Barclay, “the uovernment undertaking has been fully honoured, even in comparison with last year’s killings, which were an all-time record for the industry and in no way constitute a normal exportable kill in terms of tlie average kill over the past few years.

“in addition, when it became necessary to apply a general restriction on the killing for export of certain classes of meat, Southland and Otago were tlie only districts in the Dominion to receive preferential treatment, as facilities were granted to farmers in these areas lo kill a wider range of stock than in other districts. This action was taken because these districts bad a sound case for such preferential treatment, and the Government was prepared al all times to do the fair tiling. "It lias also been stated," continued Hie Minister, “that the Government’s action in relation to restriction of killings during the present season created a particular hardship in Ibe case of producers of wether mutton. In reply. I must state that at no time lias the local market price for prime wethers been below 4MI a lb., which is an excellent return for Hi is class ot meat and closely approximates the f.o.b, value.” *