HELP FOR FARMERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 192, 16 July 1941, Page 8

HELP FOR FARMERS

MEAT EXPORT TRADE. MINISTER'S CLAIM. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, July 16 In u statement to-day the Minister of Marketing (Mr Barclay) referred to the remit passed last evening by the Farmers' Union conference expressing "strong disapproval" of his repudiation of the Government pledge to purchase all exportable meat produced during the season and its failure to give any indication of Government policy for dealing with next season's production. Mr Barclay recalled a statement made by Hon.. W. Nash in July hist year that the Government would undertake to purchase, the normal exportable surplus meat produced during the season. » , "In assessing what is the normal cx- ! portable surplus, regard must had to the average export kill over the past j few years." Mr Barclay said. "For instance, the average of meat exports for the three years prior to the out-j break of the war was 280.700 tons, and j for the past five years, including the first year of the war and the present season, the average export kill was 303.000 tons. This yer.i" the Government will have guaranteed the pur-] chase bv September 30 of a tot-1 of 340,000 tons of expert meat. It is quite clear, therefore, that the Gov-! eminent has greatly exceeded its promise, and in doing so the Government! has shouldered n 'cry heavy financial responsibility, because Britain has agreed to a firm purchase fo 248,0001 tons only for the present season, and there will be n carry over of unsold meat to the value of approximately £5.000,000." j

With the addition of £300,000 for the erection of emergency cool storage and £200.000 to meet the loss incurred by canning certain classes of meat, the Now Zealand Government had thus guaranteed the moat industry at the present time to the extent of £6.000.000. The Minister said it was clearly premature te request an announcement concerning next season's production when the present season bad by no means been completed. The season ended on September 30. and before that date an announcement bv the Government for next season would _ be made after consultation with the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board.

.Sec "Exportable Meat"—Page 6