MEAT QUOTAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21861, 25 July 1934, Page 12

MEAT QUOTAS

DOMINION RESTRICTION MISLEADING STATEMENT EXPORTERS INDIGNANT / SHIPMENTS SUPPLY ANSWER A Press' Association cablegram received from London yesterday stated: " At present it is intended to enforce Mr. "Walter Elliot's meat restrictions in September. A Departmental Committee is preparing shipping schedules alloeatr ing tho Dominions' and Argentina's exports. 'i' " The Sun news service says it understands that these allocations will be based approximately on the Ottawa figures. Accordingly, Australia's oxports aro not likely to be drastically curtailed because they have not greatly exceeded the Ottawa figures. However, New Zealand's exports have been enormously in excess of those figures, particularly mutton and lamb. It is expected that New Zealand will bo the principal sufferer among tho Dominions under Mr. Elliot's restrictions and that - exports in some cases may be halved." " Extravagant Statement" Meat exporters in Auckland are indignant regarding the cabled report which is characterised as an extravagant piece; of mischief not to bo taken - seriously. "It is so laughably absurd that uo one would bother about it in ordinary circumstances," said a trade representative yesterday. "However, with quotas hanging over our heads, tho situation is delicate. Misleading statements, e\;en though unofficial, are not likely to improve matters.'"

The understanding reached at Ottawa with respect to meat was set out in a letter addressed by tho lit. Hon. J. G. Coates to the Itt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin under date August 19, 1932. The letter dealt with tho proposed British restrictions oil foreign supplies of beef, ' mutton and lamb, which were to be subject to a progressively higher percentage reduction, and referred as follows to New Zealand lamb and mut'ton and frozen beef:— Text of Agreement

"To assist in the orderly marketing of supplies the Dominion will give a reliable estimate of shipments of mutton and Jamb as early as possible in each export season. The season will necessarily cover the period October 1 in one year to September 30 in the following year. For the season 1932-33 we estimate our exports of frozen mutton and lamb at 200,000 tons with a

5 per cent increase in each of the two following years. For tho calendar year 1933, yo:i may take it that our shipments of frozen mutton and lamb will be tho samo as those of the 12 months ended June 30, 1932. ' "In frozen beef we estimate our exports for the season 1932-33 at not more than 22,000 tons, representing a maximum increase over the previous season of approximately 10 per cent.'' No specific" estimate was made of pork and bacon exports, Mr. Coates stating that he ,understood NeAV Zealand would be granted a reasonable share of the expansion made possible by the reduction of foreign imports. - Exports Compared The actual shipments of lamb and mutton and frozen beef from the Dominion to the United Kingdom in the past three seasons from October 1 to September 30 in each case were as follows: — 1933-' M ' 1031-32 19J2-33 to Julie iJO Lamb and mutton (-tons) . . 196.953 170,539 122.732 Beef (tons) . . '20,000 20.C42 25.714 (approx.) The figures are based on the average weights of export carcases. Tho returns show clearly that tho Dominion shipments of mutton and lamb were well within the estimate of 200,000 tons for the 1932-33 season, while in the current season it is doubtful whether the previous season's figures will be , reached. There has, in fact, been a heavy decline in mutton shipments during the past two seasons. The season 1931-32 was a peak year for both mutton and lamb killings. 1 his was due to sacrifices by sheepfanners in .order to obtain ready (ash. In the 1932-33 season a shortage in mutton made itself felt and killings declined heavily. Lamb killings wero fairly constant, but as tho mutton carcase is heavier, the combined export tonnage was reduced substantially. The same influences were apparent during the current season, with the added factor that sheepfarmers were concerned with building up flocks in order to take advantage of the rise in wool. Expansion in the export industry is expected during the coming season. The Beel Position However, New Zealand does not show so favourably in its beef exports. It i.s apparent, although it has not been officially admitted, that tho Dominion seriously over-stepped the Ottawa estimate in frozen beef. Its exports in 1932-33 should have been limited to - 22,000 tons, but they reached 20,642 tons, exceeding tho estimate by 20 per cent. They would liavu been higher but for an embargo placed on beef exports some weeks prior to the end of the season. Developments after the 19.32-33 season suggest that the beef position was reviewed by the Dominion and British Governments during tho time the embargo was in force. Shipments were reneyed at tho end of November and NeAV Zealand undertook to limit to 25,000 tons the amount of beef arriving in Great Britain between January 1 and' June 30, 1934. The returns indicate that the Dominion took full advantage of this arrangement.