BONELESS BEEF EXPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 12

BONELESS BEEF EXPORT.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln this morning’s Daily News Greenfield states that in July last, without warning from the Minister of Agriculture and at the instance ,of the chairman of the Meat Board, the total prohibition of the export of calf veal was ordered. This is an error on Greenfield’s part. The quota with Britain terminated in July last and there was no quota till quite recently. However, I agree with Greenfield when he states that it is a wicked thing that sorely pressed farmers should be let down. They are apparently not supplied with enough information by members of Parliament. When the quota expired in July last the Minister of Agriculture in Britain, Mr. W. E. Elliot, stated definitely that his policy was to put a tax of one penny per lb. on foreign boneless beef and veal and half a penny per lb. on Dominion beef and veal. Calves at that time were worth 7s 6d to 8s each. Every one expected the tax to become law in Britain. Mr. Elliot stated this tax would go into a stock fund to subsidise the British farmers’ produce. Apparently months afterward Mr. Elliot quietly dropped his tax, apparently owing to an agreement with another country which does not terminate for about 18 months. By that time Mr. Elliot may lose his seat in Parliament. Overlooking the above facts I stated some time ago in your paper that any works could export this commodity by paying the half-penny tax. This statement was incorrect. Greenfield lends credence to Lord Beaverbrook’s statement that New Zealand has been “let down by - some of its own politicians.” That is exactly where the shoe pinches. Mri David Jones with the Government's assistance has arranged a shortdated quota with Britain terminating on March 31 next. Under this for about eight weeks boneless beef could have been exported. Apparently the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture, Dr. Reakes, is opposed to the export of this commodity, and the Minister at Wellington will not grant the works a license to kill boneless beef for export. Apparently he has arranged an Order-in-Council prohibiting the killing of boners for export. Farmers cannot hold their bulls and boners; neither can they sell them. Apparently they do not realise this lean meat will not come into competition with other classes of meat. This meat is used by small goods factories in Britain and other countries, and prohibiting the export of New Zealand boneless beef means higher -prices for the other Dominions exporting boneless beef. We all realise the necessity of easing the position in Britain, but why make it hard for New Zealand farmers to fatten others? It would appear there is sufficient boneless beef passing through the usual business channels to supply the trade in Britain and so making it difficult for Mexico to get in. If the Ministers of Agriculture in every Dominion in the Empire took the same stand as the Hon. C. E. Macmillan and put through an Order-in-Council prohibiting the export of boneless beef -these smallgoods factories would draw their supply from Mexico, which, I understand, is breeding a cross between the cow and the buffalo, which produces excellent lean and tender boneless beef of good quality. Once they get the trade it will be lost to the Dominion for ever. Meat producers in New Zealand agree that under the quota Britain has played her part excellently. If ..Greenfield’s letter will arouse the fanners a little he will have rendered them a good service. Apparently Mr. Wilkinson seems to be the only other man in that quarter interested.—l am, etc., w. f. McCullough, Stratford, February 19, 1935.