MEAT EXPORT TRADE

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 July 1946, Page 4

MEAT EXPORT TRADE

NEW PRICES CONSIDERED SATISFACTORY RETURN TO THE PRODUCER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 30. The increased prices granted by the United Kingdom Government for meat and edible offals for the 1946-47 season could be regarded as highly satisfactory, said Mr. G. H. Grigg, chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, in an interview today. Mr. Grigg has just returned from a trip to the United Kingdom, where he represented the meat producers of the Dominion in the preliminary discussions leading up to the final negotiations between the New Zealand and United Kingdom Governments for increased prices under the bulk purchase contracts. “The case'for increased prices for meat was based on the case of increased farm production costs in New Zealand compiled by the Meat Board,” said Mr. Grigg. “No advantage was taken of the present sellers’ market to obtain still further increases, a goodwill gesture that should further cement the good relations existing between the two countries and lessen our difficulties in the future when the position reverts, as it ultimately will, •to a buyers’ market. Case for Price Increase. ! ‘At the earliest possible opportunity the Meat Board will be presenting a case to the Economic Stabilisation Commission for an increase in the opening meat schedule prices for the 1946-47 season, based on the increases in farm costs. It is hoped that increases will be approved sufficient to provide funds to enable the farmer to cover his increased costs and enable him to carry out deferred maintenance.

“While at Home,” said Mr. Grigg, “I had the pleasure of meeting retail and wholesale butchers’ organisations, and also individual traders outside those organisations. The discussions that ensued were most valuable and enlightening. Without exception these representatives of the meat trade in the United Kingdom paid tribute to New Zealand’s war effort not only from the point of view of production, but also with regard to our successful efforts towards maintaining pre-war standards of grading and quality. The future of New Zealand’s meat export trade depends on the maintenance of quality, and on supplying the class of meat required by the consumer overseas. “The trade expressed thanks for making available additional meat classed in New Zealand as emergency grades, even though the mutton was grossly fat and the lambs on the thin side, but emphasised that it was mutually undesirable to continue sending this any longer than was absolutely Necessary. “In the' discussions with the trade it was evident that the future demand will be, as in the past, for high quality light-weight carcases. The board, through its British representative, intends to continue to work in close harmony with tlie meat trade in the United Kingdom, which is such a vital link in the chain reaching from the New Zealand producer to the United Kingdom consumer.” Housewife’s Burden.

Mr. Grigg said that he also had the opportunity of studying conditions generally at Home. “We had little practical appreciation in New Zealand of the tremendous burden carried by the householder in the United Kingdom. It was heart rending to see the housewife queueing up day after day for the necessaries of life, so meagrely granted under the existing ration scale. If any section of the community in the United Kingdom merits admiration it is the housewives,” said Mr. Grigg. “I have returned with the conviction to do all possible in my private or public capacity to assist in alleviating, their troubles. I appeal to all sections of the farming community to assist mo in this direction by producing to the utmost of their ability until rationingcan be abolished. The demand is urgent. I am confident the appeal will not fall on deaf ears.”