MUTTON AND LAMB.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 45, 21 January 1939, Page 9

MUTTON AND LAMB.

BRITISH IMPORT CONTROL.

EFFECT ON DOAIINION

LONDON, Dec. 21. Behind the scheme for closer control of imported supplies of mutton and lamb into Great Britain, announced by the British Alinister of Agriculture, Mr AV. S. Morrison, lies the somewhat unpleasant fact for the New Zealand sheepfarmer that there can be little hope of an expanding market for his produce in the United Kingdom. The scheme, Smithfield opinion considers, means that New Zealand’s supply of mutton and lamb to the British market will virtually be limited to its present supply of approximately 190,000 tons a year. This has occasioned no surprise. For some time past British sheepfarmers. whose losses this year are estimated at £6,000,000, have been aggressive in their criticism of imported meat in view of lower_ Home prices with the result that the Government lias been obliged to take heed of the political influence behind this attitude. Mr Morrison’s announcement has, in some quarters, been referred to as a “sop to the Homo producer.” Actuallv the production of New Zealand unit ton and lamb during the past few years has been less than the quota allowed, so that there lias been no fear of an overflow. At the same time it has been double that of Australia, with its larger flocks “The new scheme will lie a blow to New Zealand sheepfarmers.” was one comment in Smithfield. “After they have been told for the last 50 years to produce more mutton and lamb, and a better quality, the time is now coming when they will have to be told that their British market cannot expand any further.”