MEAT CONTRACT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 128, 1 May 1941, Page 7

MEAT CONTRACT

SUPPLIES FROM DOAUXION. REDUCTION LESS DRASTIC. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON. Alay 1. An announcement that the meat contract between the United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments lor the current season bad been completed was made by the Aiinister of Alarketing (Hon. J. G. Barclay) to-day. In this contract the United Kingdom Government has agreed to purchase 248,000 tons of meat within the production year ending iSeptember 30, 1941. This quantity is considerably below the figure of 300,000 tons contracted for during the first year of the war, but is substantially above the quantity of 180.000 tons which at one stage was the maximum the United Kingdom Government considered could be shipped and purchased during the present year.

“This contract secured by New Zealand for 248,000 tons.” continued the Minister, “is comparable with Australia’s contract figure of 195.000 tons, but in order to make the position quite clear it should be emphasised that these contract quantities as they relate to both countries are not necessarily identical with the actual quantities of meat which will he shipped up to the end of the present year, ft can be definitely stated, however, that the Australian contract of 198,000 lons represents the same proportional reduction Irom their prc\ ions contract as in ilio case of New Zealand, and there is no suggestion that Australia will ship a greater proportion of their meat to the United Kingdom than will New Zealand.

“In regard lo Isotli countries, the attitude of the United Kingdom Gov- ; ernment throughout the year has been I to lift all the meat that was humanly possible under the circumstances, ami jat all times an equitable ratio is being maintained.” The Minister concluded by saying that although the New Zealand Government was pleased to have completed a definite contract with thq United Kingdom coveri/ig the present year, the surplus quantity of meat over and above the contract quantity would still present a major problem wliicu til's Dominion would have to face. In this respect negotiations were still continuing with the United Kingdom and it was also hoped that the development of our canning facilities would greatly assist in utilising the various classes of meat which could not be shipped in the usual manner.