MEAT RESTRICTIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 10

MEAT RESTRICTIONS

POLICY OP THE BOARD

’ ‘ POSITION UNCERTAIN ’ ’

“Restrictions must inevitably act •as a pronounced drawback to the meat production of the Dominion,.” said Mr. T. A. Duncan, a member of the Meat Producers” Board in an interview at Auckland. “When restrictions become -necessary l the . policy of-the board is to regulate those classes of meat which bring in the least money. This naturally affects such produce as . boneless beef and bobby calves. The whole position is difficult and uncertain. At the moment it is quite impossible to make apy. forecast of the nature of long-term allotments.” It was expected that these longterm arrangements for the regulation of meat imports into Britain would be fixed'as the : result* of discussions by all interested parties to take place in London in January, Mr. Duncan stated. The Dominion would .be represented by the High Commissioner, advised by Mr. David Jones, chairman of the board. It was expected that the quantities to' enter Great Britain for the next two years would bo determined. and meanwhile temporary allocations had been made covering the first quarter ending March 31. 1 “Allocations for these three months seem to be fairly satisfactory, ”• said Mr. Duncan. “The present figures look ns if they are going to cover the position, except perhaps in tho case of porkers. Should killings of these reach the allotted figures during that time, either their carcases will have to be kept in, cold store or pigs will have to be kept on the farms for further fattening to the baconer stage, whichever best suits tho convenience of the producor. “No difficulties are anticipated with respect to mutton and lamb,” he said, “unloss killings exceed tnosc of previous years, and provision for quarter beef seem adequate. It is to be regretted that thp bobby calf trade has been interfered with, as this gives valuable employment in works during the slack season, helps to keep down overhead expenses and has other advantages. “It is in the pork trade that complications, if any, are likely to arise. The baeonor allotment seems large enough, but already killings of porkers are far above last year’s record figure. Pork production is rapidly increasing, and should any drastic restriction be placed on this class of pig, this, coupled with possibility of a dry season, may make it hard for farmers to put bn the finish necessary io produce baconefs.”