RECORD OUTPUT OF MEAT LIKELY IN CURRENT SEASON

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22821, 16 December 1948, Page 4

RECORD OUTPUT OF MEAT LIKELY IN CURRENT SEASON

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. The ability and determination of New Zealand meat producers to increase the export of meat to Britain in her time of great need were indicated in a statement made by the general manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, Mr. J.

J. Evans, last night.

Mr. Evans said that there was a prospect of a record output in the present season and plans were being made foi securing the declared objective of an additional 50,000 tons per annum by 1955. The statement from Mr. Evans proceeded: . . “A statement published in Wellington this afternoon giving the impression that New Zealand cannot do much more to relieve the gloomy outlook in Britain for meat accentuated by the falling off of the Argentine supplies was supplied without my knowledge and is incorrect. The outlook for the season, just begun is particularly good and it is anticipated that the tonnage for export will be a record. Target For 1955

“The objective of an additional 50,000 tons of meat by 1955, being only a 14 per cent, increase on the present exports, does not represent anything beyond the capacity of our producers. “It has to be remembered that, despite shortages of labour, fertiliser and many other requisites, the meat production for export has expanded since just before the war by nearly 25 pel cent. It is expected that the report ol the Sheep Commission will supply a valuable contribution to plans under consideration designed to increase meat production. “The certainty of a market made even more certain by the shortcoming of the Argentine and, at prices which cannot fluctuate to a marked extent for seven years, must be a fillip to production. In any case meat producers throughout New Zealand have a reputation for producing results when it is cle.ar that extra results are required and they can be relied upon to live up to this reputation.”