MEAT EXPORTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 199, 24 July 1941, Page 6

MEAT EXPORTS

ASSURANCE BY MINISTER. NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. (Press Assu.) WELLINGTON, July 23. lu a statement issued to-day Hon. J. G. Barclay, Minister ot Marketing, briefly reviewed the present position of the export meat industry in New Zealand. Commenting, on the present searson, he said we had commenced production this year with a carry-over in siore of 40,000 tons of meat, and for the full period of the season eliding September 30. 1941, a further 340,000 tons would ultimately be purchased by the New Zealand Government. By economies such as boning, trimming, and canning, this gross quantity of 310,000 tons would be reduced to a net exportable surplur of 316.000 tons, making the total available lor export 356.000 toils.

The United Kingdom Government had agreed to purchase for the current season a definite quantity of 248,000 tons, and it was expected this quantity would be lilted by September 30. Therefore, the carry-over into the 194142 season would be 108,000 tons, but included in this figure was 6000 tons of meat already earmarked for canning, leaving a net carry-over of exportable meat ot 102 000 tons. On estimates compiled by the Marketing Department, based on tbe experience of past seasons, it was assessed that the normal exportable kill during tbe 1941-42 season would be approximately 335,000 tons, nearly the same as the quantity available during the present season. In view of the factthat the average total export kill during the past five years was only 306,000 tons, including two exceptionally heavy years, the estimate of 335,000 tons for the coming year was a reasonable one. On this evidence again this quantity of meat could be reduced by the same economies as had been applied this season by canning, and trimming, to a net figure of 250,000 tons.

“It is extremely difficult to estimate with auy certainty the actual shipping space which will be available during the coming season.” said Mr Barclay, “but in this connection we have followed the advice of our representatives in the United Kingdom, who are in constant touch with the Ministries ot Food and Shipping and who keep the Now Zealand Government fully advised as to the shipping possibilities. . For obvious reasons it would be unwise to make a statement as to the actual quantity of shipping- we assess will oe available during the coming season, but the estimate that has been made is a conservative one. . . “On the evidence available on tins basis the total quantity of export meatin store at the peak of the season next year will not be in excess of 210.000 tons. We will have available at the commencement of this season a total storage capacity, excluding freezers. of 253,000 tons, leaving a reasonable safct> margin of at least 40,000 tons to meet an emergency.

“It would appear that some sections of the meat producers are expressing considerable apprehension as to the general export and storage position during the coming year, but on the evidence which 1 have now made available it is clear that there is no real cause for alarm unless some entirely unforeseen contingency arises. The position as a whole is safe for at least the next 18 months.

“In conclusion. I should again stress the iact that the actions taken by the Government are based finally on the actual information we receive from London, where our representatives are constantly in touch with the Ministries controlling importation of foodstuffs and the allocation of shipping. The advice we receive from this source is the best available and undoubtedly is the advice which should be followed.

MORE INFORMATION WANTED

POLICY FOR NEXT SEASON. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, July 23. The Government is to be asked to expedite the statement of its policy for the disposal of next season’s meat according 'to a motion carried at the annual conference of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation. The fedora- ~ tion decided to submit its request through the Meat Board, and failing a satisfactory outcome in the near future, to send a deputation .to the Government.

“The Government should be told ir. forcible terms that it is jeopardising the sheep industry of this country,” said Air W. S. Glenn (Feilding), referring to the question of the disposal of cast ewes. “Tiler i is only one buyer and seller for meat, the Government. If it did not face the position everybody in the industry would suffer.’' Mr A. McDonald (Wairarapa) said it was tho duty of producers to rise as a body and demand that old ewes be disposed of. If the Aleat Board was going to he ignored hv the Government it should go to the country and explain to the producers that the board was not being taken notice of. Air A. J. Hawken (Hawera) said owes should never he sent Home because by overstocking the market the price of other meats was brought down. The Government should he urged to reduce this meat to come from where it did not compote with other meat. Mr E. Hay (Christchurch) suggested that tlie Government he urged to resume boning and canning immediately. Air J. Begg (Otago) a member of the ATeat Board) suggested a motion urging that ewe mutton in store be. disposed of at the earliest possible moment. The Alcat Board had put all the matters raised to the Government.