THE MEAT TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 10

THE MEAT TRADE

MUTTON AND LAMB EXPORTS f BRITISH FARMERS ALARMED AGITATION FOR RESTRICTION (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 10. Concerned lest importations of mutton and lamb from New Zealand and Australia make their own sheep farmers unable to meet such overseas competition, farmers’ unions in England and Scotland are giving much attention and energy to an attempt to have restrictions placed in imported meat. This development, which might have a serious effect in restricting New Zealand’s export trade, was noticed in many parts of England on a recent visit by Mr E. Hay, a well-known runholder of Pigeon Bay, who returned to-day from a trip abroad. “ The feeling amongst the farmers’ unions there is that heavy importations of mutton and lamb into England are affecting their own sheep farming industry,” Mr Hay said, “members of the unions are inclined to think that because of this there should be some restriction on the importations of meat.” An Active Campaign A drop of £ 1 a head in the value of sheep in England last year had hit hard a number of English farmers, and many of them were, inclined to blame the importation of meat as the cause. They claimed that if heavy importations were allowed to continue the farmers at Home would be able neither to compete with mutton from overseas nor to make a living. “ The farmers’ unions in England and Scotland are very active bodies and they are pushing this matter very hard,” Mr Hay added. “ I am afraid that that is what is coming,” he continued when his attention was drawn to a recent press cablegram from England discussing the possible need for import licences before lambs could be brought in. New Zealand and Australia had been very fortunate in having no restrictions, and the imposition of a quota would be a serious loss to this country. For instance, if New Zealand produced 10,000,000 lambs in a season and only 9,000,000 were allowed into England, what was to be done with the remaining million? Effect of Advertising Another factor in the agitation by the farmers’ unions for restriction on meat imports into England, Mr Hay said, was the great success that had attended the advertising policy to sell New Zealand lamb and mutton which had been carried through by the Meat Board. The board had done really excellent work, until many English people now bought New Zealand lamb in preference to English.