The Times MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1941. Our Meat to Britain?

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 4, 6 January 1941, Page 4

The Times MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1941. Our Meat to Britain?

Britain’s meat ration lias been reduced from Is lOd per person per week to Is 6d, a cut of practically 20 per cent, as from this morning. That news, cabled from London last week, is of grave significance to New Zealand, not alone to farmers but to every citizen, as it betokens a threat to our whole economic foundation. Some may consider it unwise to refer to the matter, as it might cause undue concern amongst our citizens. That is to advocate the foolish ostrich policy—not one for an all-in war effort. Better by far that facts be faced up to and an effort made intelligently to meet the situation in prospect.

Lord Woolton, Minister for Food, did not beat about the bush when explaining the ration reduction: “ .... he was asking the country deliberately to sacrifice meat at home for munitions in Libya.” And again: “ meat had been rationed for just on 12 months and during that time the public had had almost normal supplies.” That the shipping position for Britain is acute must be apparent to all. And this has been of growing concern for several months.

What the public here may not generally realise and what officialdom in New Zealand has apparently failed to realise is that New Zealand is specially ill-situated. Wc are Britain s farthest source of supply. Under war pressure Britain must naturally get supplies from the handiest sources —this subject, of course, to problems of exchange. And that is one of our assets, fortunately. Another asset is that a great proportion of what we export is essential even under war conditions and not elsewhere sufficiently obtainable. Thus the outlook for our dairy products and wool is to be regarded as reasonably assured. Meat, however, is in a much more precarious position. New Zealand supplied,approximately 11 per cent, of Britain’s normal meat requirements while Britain self-supplied 50 per cent, of her needs, this excluding pork and bacon. At a pinch Britain could get on without a single carcase from Australia or New Zealand, and in so doing provide the ration now announced. And she can do this without any drain on dollar exchange, for South America must sell on Britain’s terms under European blockade conditions, there being no alternative market.

Alone in the Dominion one man of unusual experience and considerable foresight drafted a plan to meet the situation lie long ago foresaw might arise. He is Mr. S. S. Timbs, of Wanganui, ex-Meat Board supervisor, amongst many other practical experiences here and abroad. For months he has advocated a sound and excellently drafted proposal and urged it upon the Meat Board, the Department of Agriculture and the Minister of Marketing. Farmers of the Wanganui district offered to supply, free of cost, stock to be treated by the Timbs method and shipped to Lord Woolton as a gift. ►Such a trial would have tested the plan thoroughly. Details were placed before the Minister of Marketing and the Controller of Primary Industries in August last. Despite repeated requests, no license has been issued for such a shipment. It has not been given a trial

It is claimed for this scheme that meat so treated will supply in three ships the equivalent now requiring five ships. Carcases would be boned and trimmed so as to send Home only edible meat, free of waste, this to great benefit of consumers at Home and a vast saving in shipping. The present telescoping of mutton and lamb is giving a comparatively insignificant economy. The Timbs treatment is most unorthodox and doubtless the authorities did not desire to introduce so radical a change in trade unless forced to do so by overwhelmingly compelling circumstances. With that attitude sympathy is to be felt. But this does not condone the lack of enterprise displayed by our authorities. The situation now to be met demands immediate and decisive action. “Muddling through” will not do. The risk is too great and the need too urgent. The greatest economy in shipping space must be practised.