EXPORT MEAT PRICES: COT HELD UNLIKELY

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 August 1950, Page 4

EXPORT MEAT PRICES: COT HELD UNLIKELY

WELLINGTON, This Day (P.A.) —There is little likelihood of a reduction in the overall meat contract prices this year, the chairman of the Meat Producers' Board, Mr Grigg/ informed the annual meeting of the board today. The price negotiations, he said, were not yet complete. “Our representatives asked for the full 7i per cent, increase allowable under "the contract,” he said. “Our case is based on the prices being paid by Britain to other countries, but the conditions were complicated by Britain’s difficult negotiations with the Argentine and by the fact that Australia, who had no contract at that time, was negotiating a new 15-year contract for all meat. ’

“In view of these complications, it was, therefore, agreed that it would be more satisfactory for both parties to postpone the discussions for three months. It was,agreed that consideration should be given to realigning the differentials between the various classes of meat with a bias towards quality. “This matter will be discussed when the talks are resumed, as also will the question of the release of a percentage of meat for other markets. “The tallow contract has been renewed for a further 12 months, with prices reduced by per cent., calculated to the nearest 10s. We have the right to sell any quantity of edible tallow and up to 500 tons of inedible tallow to other markets,” he added.