GOVERNMENT PURCHASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 168, 19 July 1941, Page 6

GOVERNMENT PURCHASE

EXPORTABLE MEAT MINISTER S REPLY TO CRITICISM Wellington. July 17. In a statement to-day the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, referred to a remit passed last evening by the Farmers’ Union conference expressing “strong disapproval’’ of his repudiation of the Government pledge to purchase all exportable meat produced during the season, jinrl his failure to give any indication of the Government policy for dealing with next season’s production.

Mr. Barclay recalled the statement by Mr. Nash in July of last, year, that the Government would undertake to purchase the normal exportable surplus of meat produced during the season. “In assessing what is the normal exportable surplus, regard mu.< be had to the average export kill over the past four years," Mr. Barclay said.

“For ins.ance, the average meat exports for three years prior to the outbreak of war were 280,700 tons and for the past five years, including the first year of the war and the present season average export kill 306,000 tons. This year the Government will have guaranteed the purchase by September 30 of a total of 340,000 tons ol export meat. It is quite clear therefore that the Government greatly exceeded its promise, and in doing so the Government shouldered a very' heavy financial responsibility, because Britain agreed to a firm purchase 243.000 tons only for the present season and there will be a carry over of unsold meat to the value of approximately £5.600,000.” With the addition of £300,000 for the erection of emergency cool storage and £200,000 to meet the loss incurred by canning certain classes of meat, the New Zealand Government has thus guaranteed the meat industry at the present time to the extent of £6,000,000. The Minister said it was clearly premature to request an announcement concerning next season's production when the present season had by no means been completed. The season endea on September 30 and before that date the announcement of the Government for the next season would be made after cosultation with the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. —P.A.