WAR MEAT EXPORTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20487, 22 February 1941, Page 4

WAR MEAT EXPORTS

CLARIFICATION URGED HEAVY MUTTON PRICES FARMERS’ UNION VIEW In order to secure a clearer idea of the future prospects of meat exports, the Poverty Bay provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, at its meeting yesterday, decided -to ask the Government, through the union’s head office in Wellington, to clarify the position, particularly in regard to heavy mutton. The meeting had before it a circular from the Dominion secretary, who explained that as far as he could gather buying of fat stock for export would continue as previously, and arrangements would be made by the Government to take over the meat at a specified time after killing. There would be no material change in purchase prices, unless due to factors other than the price of meat, and no differentiation would be made this season as between the various classes of meat, although it was probable that the whole position would be subject to considerable change before next season. Mr. T. R. Jones stated that one man had claimed that for a line of tegs he was offered only old ewe prices. , The president, Mr. J. E. Benson, said he could not understand Mr. Jones’ statement because such sheep were valuable, sometimes being got in at lamb prices. s , Members reviewed the prospect of sufficient ships being available, to take the Dominion’s produce overseas, and felt that all the refrigeration space available in the Dominion would be required this season, although a considerable easing of the position was expected, during the off-season. The secretary was instructed to write to the Government, through the head office of the union,, and ask for a clarification of the position concerning meat prices, particularly in regard to heavy mutton.