GOVERNMENT’S HELP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 153, 31 May 1941, Page 7

GOVERNMENT’S HELP

TO SHEEP-FARMERS. (Press Assn.) DUNEDIN, May 30. “Von have had some cunning politicians interpreting the Government's promises lor you, hut I can say that we have done a generous thing by the farming community and if we had not come behind you as we did when restrictions were placed on the killing of sheep there would have been chaos in the industry.” In these words the Minister of Marketing (Hon. J. G. Barclay) referred to criticism of ihe Government’s action during the meat crisis when he met the sheep-owners ui Otago in conference to-night. The Government had made definite promises, Air Barclay said. “But it is not going to have those promises ridden to death. It is our policy to get behind any industry that might Ij<? struck down in the same way that the meat industry has beeu, and it will cost the Government about £5.000.000 to do it-—£-1,000.000 to hold nearly 100,000 tons of meat, mostly lamb, in the freezer a'nd about £i50.000 to can 35,000, tons of ewe mutton. That is how we are keeping our promises to the sheep-farmers.”