MEAT PURCHASES

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1941, Page 5

MEAT PURCHASES

FARMERS AND MINISTERS. WELLINGTON, July. 15. , Strong disapproval at the action ol the Minister for Agriculture (Mr Barclay) “for his repudiation of the Government’s pledge to purchase all exportable meat produced this season, and his failure to give any indication of the Governments policy for dealing with next season’s meat production,” was expressed at the annual Dominion conference of the N?" Zealand Farmers’ Union m Wellington to-day. Moving a remit irom Ucago to tms effect, Mr E. a. Cameron (Gore) quoted various ni'omises made by the Prime Minister and Mr Barclay. “They were definite promises, ana I think every farmer believed that when he fattened his stock it would be paid for by the Goveimment When the Government got into a bn ot a jam it began to side-step, and said the farmers were taking advantage of the position, and sending in abnormal quantities,” said Mr Cameron. He quoted legal opinion from the best compensation lawyer in the South Island,” who said he thought the Minister had contracted as claimed The oromise was broken, Mi Cameron added; and that undermined the farmers’ confidence m n nj futuie promises by the Government. Seconding the motion, Mi D. H Cockburn (Queenstown) said theie Sas no question pet the producers ot the Dominion haa a definite case against the Minister. The remit was carried without dissent. A resolution that the systemi fox the election of members of the Meat Producers’ Board be ward system, and also that daily farmers and beef producers be granted representation at the election ol the board, was adopted by delegates. FURTHER REQUEST. WELLINGTON, July 16. For the sixth successive time, Mr. Mulholland was elected president of the New Zealand Farmers Union. The following officers were also elected unopposed: yice-presidents, A. Briscoe Moore (Whangaxex), K. JHolyoake (Motueka). VfT’TreT - - X Elected member, Mr. Polson. . A request that the Government immediately announce the procedure for marketing of stock in the ensuing season, and indicate the prices to be paid ioi’ various classes of meat, was framed by the Conference, after receiving a report on the meat position from the special committee appointed to deal with it. The report covered the situation as it affected efficient farm production, and urged that interference with normal routine would be disastrous and must not be allowed to occur. The policy of the Government should be to ship all those classe of meat required by the British Government, which would provide the most food value for the space available. —Press Assn. n MINISTER’S REPLY. WELLINGTON, July 16. In a statement, to-day, Mr. Barclay referred to a remit passed last evening by the Farmers’ Union conference, expressing “strong disapproval” of his repudiation of the Government pledge to purchase all the exportable meat produced during the season, and his failure to give any indication of the Government policy fox' dealing with next season’s production. Mr. Barclay recalled the statement made by Mr. Nash in July last year, that the Government would undertake to purchase normal exportable surplus of meat produced during the season. “In assessing what is the norma] exportable surplus, regard must be had to the average export kill over the past fdw years,” Mr. Barclay said. “For instance, the average meat exports for the three years prioi’ to the outbreak of the wax' were 280,700 tons, and for the past five years, including the first year of the war and the present season, the average export kill was 306.000 tons. This year, the Government; will have guaranteed to purchase by September 30 a total of 340,000 tons of export meat. It is quite clear, therefore, that the Government has greatly exceeded its promise, and in doing so, the Government shouldered a very heavy financial re-

sponsibility, because Britain agreed to the purchase of 248,000 tons only for the present season, and there will be a carry-over of unsold meat to the value of approximately £5,600,000. With the addition of £300,000 for the erection of emergency cool storage, and £200,000 to meet the loss incurred by the canning of certain classes of meat, the New Zealand Government has thus guaranteed the meat industry at the present time to the extent of £6,000,000.” The Minister said it was clearly premature to request an announcement concerning next season s production, when the present season had by no means been completed. The season ended on September 30, and before that date an announcement by the Government, for the next season, would be made after consultation with the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. —P-A.