NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17595, 7 October 1920, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

. ■. ' ' - .•.■■•■.■•• --.-•.-':.-. ■ .'*,,. ... ... ■ . " ' ~ —- .-.-y ' "- - ~ CLEARING THE STORES. li <- -• • '.•.?■ -.'" 7' ' *.. • .'"-" ' * •■■ * • ,-i ■ ■■■•■•■ ..-■'. • SALE/MADE' TO YESTEYS, [\~ STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEYi..; BENEFIT TO THE DOMINION., y: *[BY TBLEGnAPH. —SPECIAL EETO3TEB.] "".. g "WELLINGTON. Wednesday. ;; In the House this afternoon the Prime 1 Minister, in reply to a. question put by . Mr. G. Hunter (Waipawa) regarding the reported sale of New Zealand meat to Vestey Brothers, read the following cablegram he' had received from the High Commissioner on the subject, dated October s:— " An official statement was losced last week that the Ministry of Food has fold jte remaining stocks, of Australian and New Zealand beef, and I received representa- ■„ tions from the nominated agents, who express serious concern as to the effect of such sale on account of the diversion of New Zealand beef from the ordinary channels. , Accordingly I interviewed the director of meat supplies, and he this morning submits the following information: The Ministry-of Food advises that all New Zealand beef in store in New Zealand, afloat, and in store in the United Kingdom has been sold to the Weddel Beef Company, Rotterdam- The. primary object of the , buyers is for sale on the Continent, but they have the right to sell in the "United Kingdom. Arrangements • for additional tonnage are being made in conjunction with the Tonnage Committee. This will materially expedite the clearance of New Zealand stores. Await allocation of steamers before making any further shipments of beef. The deal includes Australian and New Zealand beef. The Weddel Beef Company is Vesteys. and the additional tonnage referred to will consist of Vestey's Blue Star steamers. The Ministry expect that .the major portion of the beef, will be disposed of outside the United Kingdom, and give as a reason for the sale the fact that during the last fewmonths Australian and New Zealand beef has been selling very slowly indeed. The Ministry's instruction from the Treasury was to liquidate as soon as possible. They consider the action taken is in the bees interests of all concerned, as this will relieve possible congestion and hasten a return to normal market conditions. I am informed also fiat the Ministry has sold all the cut ewes which will be delivered ex store Great Britain for shipment to Continental countries." j- v Mr. Massey, commenting on Sir James Allen's cablegram, said he heartily agreed with the suggestion that the action taken was in the "best interests of all concerned. He had received a report from the Department of Imperial Supplies, stating that . 200.000 cut ewe_carcases were in ehe' New Zealand stores at the present time. Apparently this meant they would go to Vesteys. The quantity of beef in store in New Zealand was about 83,0CQ-. f carcases, equivalent) to one million freight carcases, or roughly 60,000,000 pounds. The sale was quite "an extensive' one. and he thought it would bs of e'benefit to New Zealand, since it -would facilitate the clearance of the stores.and so make room for the new season's meat. | The quantity of frozen meat in the stores on September 15 had b<*»n 5,091,814 freight carcases. The quantity -to be ; loaded in September and October steamers wa* *. 1,221,443,. leaving , a -balance of 3,870,401 freight carcases. Allocations for other . steamers _ to be loaded! shortly exceeded one million carcases,"-'arid the stocks estimated: to remain on' November 15 .next • ampuntd to 2,785,001 carcases. - These figures, "added the Prime Minister, 'meant that even without the special steamers referred to in the cablegram^ there would be j less titan, two million freight carcases in the stores at the end of the year. That would be a better"position than, had been expected. • The -position undoubtedly was improving, and he hoped that it would be quite . satisfactory by the time .the new ' season opened. .-■-. '. '