QUOTAS ON MEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22006, 12 January 1935, Page 10

QUOTAS ON MEAT

REVIEW OE POSITION

"NO MATERIAL CHANGE"

STATEMENT BY MR. FORBES

NEGOTIATIONS PROCEEDING [by telegraph OWN coiiukspondent] WELLINGTON, Friday "There is 110 material change in the position regarding quotas or the restriction Of New Zealand meat exports to the United Kingdom this year," said the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, to-day. "As already announced, wo are working on short-dated agreements having effect until the end of March. Negotiations with a view to securing long-term arrangements are going forward with the British Government. "In addition to the direct communication between the two Governments by cablegram, the question is to be discussed further in London. The London conferences will be resumed on January 20 between representatives of the British Government and the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir James Parr, who will bo supported by Mr. David Jones, chairman of the Meat Producers' Board. Every Effort Being Made "It is, of course, impossible to say what the outcome of the discussions may be," said Mr. Forbes, "but every effort is being made to arrange satisfactory agreements over the longer gpriod. The question involves vital interests for the Dominion and nothing will be left undone to obtain the best possible results. "In all probability problems affecting both countries will be discussed during the Ministerial conferences to be held in London on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the King's accession. In the meantime the position has not altered." As regards the latest restriction of the exportation of porker pigs from New Zealand to tho United Kingdom, none of the Ministers who were invited to discuss the position showed 'any desire to comment on the questions of policy involved. It was pointed out, however, that the restriction which was gazetted yesterday in compliance with tho requirements of the British Government, in respect of tho quantities which may arrive in the United Kingdom on or before March 31, is merely temporary, and will ceaso at the end of March. Effect Upon Industries Until all the returns of slaughterings throughout New Zealand during the short-dated period of export restriction have become available to the authorities, it will not be possible to determine the effect of the restriction on the primary industries engaged in raising porker pigs. Administrators and representatives of the exporters, however, do not consider that the economic effect will be serious. Any estimate of surplus carcases likely to be affected must, in the circumstances, be guesswork, but officials closely interested in the export of porker pigs suggest that 50,000 would be fairly near the mark. The number may be rather more, in view of the fact that the industry of pig breeding has expanded Tapidly in New Zealand in recent years. Exports and Consumption For instance, the number of pigs, 660,393, returned last year was the highest ever recorded in this country. The value of frozen pork exported in the 1933-34 financial year was £950,183, compared with £393,726 in the previous year. During the five years ended March 31 last, 2,904,370 pigs were slaughtered in New Zoaland, representing approximately 2,900,000cwt. of pork, bacon and ham, of which slightly more than one third was exported. The consumption in tho Dominion is exceptionally heavy, the average annual consumption per head of population being 281b.

The position of the veal industry remains unsatisfactory and represents a problem for all those concerned. Slaughterings of "bobby" calves more than doubled in the past five years, increasing from 443,715 carcases in 1930 to 954,410 last year. As a consequence of trade agreements with the British Governpient, an embargo was placed on tie export of "bobby" calf meat, and there have been no exports since July 12 last year. The que§tion is receiving consideration, hut apparently there is no immediate prospect of the ban being lifted.