MEAT IMPORTS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20485, 11 December 1934, Page 7

MEAT IMPORTS.

British Programme Under Quotas. THREE MONTHS’ FIGURES. INVERCARGILL, This Day. “In reference to discussions which have been taking place for some time between his Majesty’s Government and the New Zealand Government in regard to restrictions on the importation of New Zealand meat, the New Zealand Government has obtained the consent of the British Government to release for general information the programme laid down by the British Government for three months’ importts to the United Kingdom,” stated the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) in a statement to-day.

“ It is provided that imports into the United Kingdom during the period from January 1 to March 31, 1935, shall not exceed the following quantities, which are based upon average imports into the United Kingdom during the first quartetr of 1932-33-34:—Beef and veal (including beef offals), 160,000 cwt; mutton and lamb, 800,000 cwt; pork (excluding baconers), 75,000c\vt. 44 The quota for beef includes a suballocation for chilled beef of 20,000 cwt. With regard to pork, the New Zealand Government, acting in conjunction with the Meat Board, has been successful in arranging that shipments of baconer carcases be dealt with separate!)’ outside the meat quota, and the quota for this period of 75.000 cwt for porker pigs has been based on average imports of pork, including baconers. for the first quarters of the last three years. “ Despite this, however, heavy killings of porkers, which are in progress, will render this porker quota inadequate and necessitate a carry-over for arrival in the United Kingdom after March 31.

“ The Government, which is acting in thte closest co-operation with the Meat Board, is keeping in constant touch with the whole matter. The board is now going into arrangements for an equable allocation in respect to stored stocks needing to be carried over to arrive in the United Kingdom after March 31.

44 The quota for baconers is not yet settled, either as to the period or the quantity, and negotiations are still going on. The final result will be made known as soon as it is available. Present indications point to a satisfactory baconer quota being obtained. “ The Minister points out that the programme set out for three months ending March 31 is entirely without prejudice to discussions which are new taking place in regard to the quantity of meat to arrive in the United Kingdom after March 31.”