FOOD FOR BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1939, Page 5

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

MEAT QUOTAS LIFTED. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 6. A report that the British quotas on New Zealand mutton have been lifted and that in future beef was to be frozen, not chilled as at present, for England, was confirmed to-night by Mr T. A. Duncan, chairman of the New Zealand Meat Board. The decision will have the effect of releasing from store in the Dominion approximately 1,000,000 ewe and wether carcases. “The quota, automatically went with the declaration by England of a state of war,” said Mr Duncan. "It will pot give immediate relief to the meat industry unless shipping can be increased.”

Arrangements for increased shipping had to be made several months ahead, said Mr Duncan. The Government had been dealing direct with the British interests on the question of freights for shipping. “I am not in a position to say much about it, because we are in the dark at present on some questions,” replied Mr Duncan when he was asked if it was correct to say that all the ewe mutton held over from last season’s killing and now in cold storage would find a market in Britain.

A meeting of the Meat Board will be held in Wellington on Friday when the question of accommodation for meat on outgoing shipping will be discussed. NEGOTIATIONS IN PROGRESS. An announcement that negotiations were im progress with the United Kingdom Government for the purchase of surplus supplies of New Zealand butter, cheese, meat, and other primary products was made tonight by the Minister 1 for Marketing (Mr Nash). The Minister said it was hoped that arrangements would be completed at an early date. Mr Nash also stated that the United Kingdom Government had requested that several of the Marketing Department officials operating in London should be attached to the Food Defence Department.