FOOD FOR BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 2

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

DRIED DAIRY PRODUCTS CONTRACTS WITH DOMINION (Special) AUCKLAND, Mar. 15. Details of the contract of sale of dehydrated butter-fat to the United Kingdom for the period ending July 31 next issued by the Marketing Department show that the British Ministry of Food agreed to purchase 10,000 tons or such larger quantity as might be produced, grade 1 to be paid for at £l5O a ton, f.ob., and grade 2 at £145 a ton. Moisture content is not to exceed l per cent., and the Government grading is accepted as to quality and weight, subject to confirmation by a panel of experts co-opted by the Ministry of Food in London, on which panel New Zealand is represented. The Auckland dehydrating plant has a capacity, working three shifts, of 9000 to 10,000 tons a year. There has been considerable devetof)ment of the experimental work initiated in 1941, it is reported. A contract with the British Government provides for the supply to Britain of 2500 tons of dried mutton or beef, New Zealand undertaking to be ready to increase the quantity to 5000 tons m 1944. Prices are based on the frozen schedule rates for export meat, plus costs of processing and a contribution towards the capital cost of the plant at the rate of 20 per cent, per annum, spread over the period of the contract, namely, three years. . , .. Skim-milk powder, of which the country’s normal exports are taken, is paid for at the rate of £36 5s a ton, and evaporated milk at 19s 9d a case, f.o.b.