The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1939. Meat Export Restrictions

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1939, Page 6

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1939. Meat Export Restrictions

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper

THE axe has now fallen in no uncertain fashion, as fai as mutton exports are concerned. If anything has been needed to impress on the general public the effect of the 3 per cent, restriction imposed by the British Government on New Zealand mutton and lamb quota, the Meat Board’s instruction to freezing companies supplies it. The effect of the restriction is that, of mutton killed and stored from April 15 to September 30 this year, only 45 per cent, may be exported. Actually, this is not quite as alarming as i sounds, as the total thus witheld will not amount to more than 3 per cent, of the year’s total output. Moreover, the object of the Meat Board’s circular is to retain in New Zealand the least valuable class of meat, clearing the way for free export of lamb alld fact that approximately 200,000 carcases will be left in New Zealand, which otherwise would have been exported, gives some idea of the serious effect of even a small reduction in our exports quota. With 200,000 carcases in the cold stores, the direct effect is that 200,000 sheep in the farmers paddocks are in danger of becoming practically a glut on the mail Those farmers who can dispose of their sheep for local killing are fortunate. There are others who will find it difficult to command any sort of market at all for old ewes, and m fact, iust as coming events cast their shadows before, so the knowledge that exports would have to be restricted has for some time past had a depressing effect at stock sales in New Zealand, and old ewes have lately been practically unsaleable. The recent growing concern of sheepfarmers regarding future prospects is traceable to a great extent to this position. Nor is it possible to see how any relief can.be expected, excep through some form of Government assistance, which would have to be provided from the general funds. The whole weakness of New Zealand s present position is that our own restrictions on imports make it illogical to protest against similar restrictions imposed by Britain in order to protect the British farmer. When British manufacturers had free access to the New Zealand market, the Dominion was always armed with a strong argument against quotas; but now an expanding market has been turned into a contracting one, and no representations can carry any real weight so long as similar action is being taken by New Zealand against Butish marl Mr C Nash n 0 doubt discuss the situation with authorities in London, and he will be assisted by the presence of Mr G. A. Duncan, Director of External Marketing, who also left for England last week. But unless Mr Nash is prepared to relax the import constrictions considerably, it seems futile to hope foi any real improvement in the position.