NEW MEAT CONTRACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23954, 2 May 1941, Page 6

NEW MEAT CONTRACT

A substantial measure of relief is provided for New Zealand meat producers in the announcement by the Minister of Marketing, Mr. liarclay, that a new contract between ihe Governments of I lie United Kingdom and New Zealand provides for the purchase of 218,000 tons of meat from the Dominion during the current export season, an increase of 68,000 tons on the amount last mentioned from London. The acceptance by Britain of greater import responsibilities, in spite of shipping difficulties, appears to be a result of the successful advocacy on the part of Empire producers carried out in London by the Federal Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies. It was announced some days ago that the Australian quota had been expanded from 144,000 to 198,000 tons, and the Herald's prediction that New Zealand exports might advance in consequence from 180,000 to 240,000 tons has proved very close to the mark. The effect on local meat producers, however, has still to be determined. When the drastic reductions in Britain's import requirements were first announced, local killings for export

-were severely restricted. At the beginning of last month additional categories of wether and ewe mutton and of boner beef were added to the classes acceptable for killing and storage by the freezing works, but there is nothing in Mr. Barclay's latest statement to indicate whether the new contract will permit a further extension in killings. Pending an official explanation of the position, it is well to remember that New Zealand this season has an export market for 248,000 tons of meat, whereas actual shipments last season amounted to more than .'550,000 tons. There is still a substantial cut, involving the meat export industry in considerable problems of finance which can only be solved by (government direction and assistance.