MEAT MARKET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 9, 21 December 1933, Page 5

MEAT MARKET

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS Announced by Major Elliot HELPING HOME SUPPLIES (British Official Wireless.) (Received 21, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 20. The Minister of Agriculture, Major W. E. Elliott, in a long statement on the live stock situation in the House of Commons, said that notwithstanding efforts made since November, 1932, to hold and improve the situation in the wholesale meat market, the return from the feeding of cattle continued unsatisfactory. In these circumstances it was essential to afford some relief in respect of supplies of imported cattle for immediate slaughter. Accordingly, it was intended to issue an order limiting the import of fat cattle from the Irish Free State to 50 per cent, for three months ended March 31, as compared with the corresponding period last year. As regarded Canada, the Minister said that the Dominion Government had agreed to co-operate by stabilising exports of cattle, both fat and store, to this market for the first quarter of the coming year at the figure of the first quarter of last year. Arrangements were being made to limit imports next quarter of foreign canned beef and/or reduce imports from foreign countries of chilled beef by the same extent as in the first, quarter last year. As arranged at Ottawa, imports of frozen beef from foreign countries would be reduced next quarter by 30 per cent. Negotiations for readjusting the proportion of imported bone and boneless beef from foreign countries was under consideration. The situation in the baeon market was under consideration, and if necessary a reduction of imports from foreign countries by a farther seven per cent, on March 1, and an additional three per cent, on June 1 would be effected. PLACE OF ORIGIN. The Ministry of Agriculture standing committee on meat recommends an Order-in-Council prohibiting the importation of chilled beef, frozen mutton, lamb and pork unless it bears an indication of origin. It is recommended that chilled beef be branded and stamped in ink or stain with a continuous series of words in letters not less than half an inch in height on the outside of each side in three columns extending longitudinally practically the whole length of the side .Frozen mutton and pork must have four marks on each side in half-inch letters. The committee considers the marking of imported frozen beef and veal unnecessary. It suggests the marking of containers of boneless meat sufficient. The committee states that it is satisfied that the substitution of a cheaper article for the higher-priced home or Empire product takes place to a substantial extent. Therefore some form of marking the origin of imported meat is desirable in the public interest. “It is only fair to state that we are satisfied on the evidence that substitution is not practised by importers and wholesale traders, and that retail traders are aware of the origin of the article they are paying for. Regarding the Australian and New Zealand suggestion that marking would slow down output, the evidence in support of these statements was too vague in general character to be convincing.”