MEAT EXPORT TRADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 293, 12 December 1941, Page 3

MEAT EXPORT TRADE

MEETING OF FARMERS : CANCELLED f STATEMENT ON AGREEMENT 1 WITH BRITAIN I “In view of the situation which hast developed in the Pacific, and the fait that shipping arrangements will prob-' I ably have to be reviewed, it is not considered practicable at this stage [to enlarge on what the Meat Board (has accomplished regarding this seasons kill.'’ said the secretary of the ; Wanganui Provincial Executive of • the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr.' ]A. R. Donaldson, when explaining on Wedne. da why the puvlie meet-j in: of farmers was cancelled. The meeting was to have been held I in the Jockey Club Rooms. St. Hill Street, at 11 a.m.. and arrangements' | had been made for the chairman of. the New Zealand Meat Producers’’ Board. Mr. T. A. Duncan, to address the gathering and outline the activities of the board in recent months. Because of the new situation which developed after Japan’s entry into the war. it was decided on Tuesday to cancel the meeting. Mr. Duncan subsequently issued a statement on the meat agreement with the United Kingdom and other aspects of the industry. “The agreement has not yet been completely finalised, but the main es-

sentials arc that the productive objective for export meat products to' Ithe United Kingdom for the present’ (season, and for the duration of the, iwar and one year thereafter, is based I at 275.000 tons of meat." Mr. Dun-1 man stated. “This figure includes all! 'frozen meats and canned meats at the 'equivalent of their frozen weights.' land it is towards this productive ohIjective that the United Kingdom (wish the export industry of the Do'minion to be organised. ; “The United Kingdom will cn-; deavour to lift and purchase this 'quantity of 275,000 tons of meat during this year and subsequent years, j and it must be the endeavour of the, New Zealand meat industry to re luc • the meat products available for ex'port to the United Kingdom, to a quantity not in excess of 275 000 tons. 'Any production of meat suitable for export in excess of 275.000 tons is the (responsibility of New Zealand. I “Tliough the United Kingdom Government will endeavour to lift this quantity of 275.000 tons, the quantitv ' purchased will be that actually lifted, in accordance with the general surpluses agreement. The responsibility ' for the balance between the quantitv actually lifted and the figure of 275.000 tons will he shared equally between the United Kingdom and the New Zealand Governments in terms of the surpluses agreement. "The United Kingdom lias indicated that the surpluses agreement will operate only in respect of export production commencing with this present season. This means that the carry-over of 78,000 tons from last season is outside the agreement and

I at present is the entire responsibility; ! of the New Zealand Government. The ’ New Zealand Government is asking | .for more favourable consideration in | (this respect, but no indication of a ■change in the viewpoint of the Unitled Kingdom Government has yet been received. “With regard to this season's production. 1 may state that the Govern-i meat and the hoard made very care-j ful estimates of the probable amount !<>f meat available for export, and! ' after providing for honing and canning, the net figure of frozen nwat • was still in excess of the productive] (objective, and this excess quantity, ■ would automatically become the re-1 sponsibility of New Zealand. I "The New Zealand Government and I the hoard recognised that the con-' tinuous stability of our frozen meat , ‘industry could only be safeguarded by a renewal of the Government's i guarantee to purchase the normal exportable surplus, irrespective of the implications of the new agreement. Il ■was also recognised that we should ■ ■ endeavour to reduce to as low as possible the export weignt of lamb and I mutton, so as to ensure that the ■greatest number of animals could he ' slaughtered and frozen for export ' v.lthin a given tonnage Also valued ' as being of vital importance is the ■ point that the export value of ewe mutton should be maintained and ■ should not he allowed to entail undue hardships on certain sections of the farming community. "It was finally agreed between the ' Government and the hoard that in the opening prices for meat exported, the I producer should receive substantially

.the same prices this season as he did) last season, but would forego any in-; I creased prices granted by the United] (Kingdom, or any increase in the value j of pelts, the object being to provide a fund for the main purpose of main- I taining the value of ewe mutton at a fair and reasonable level. "Should it he necessary during the, |season to apply a restriction on th"! (freezing for export of any class of] meat, no such restriction "ill be ap-, (plied until the question has been fully j discussed by the Government with the] ■ board,'' Mr. Duncan added. | There were several matters yet to ibe finalised with the Government, but I |on the whole the arrangements made] (must be considered satisfactory to] l farmers, particularly under war con- ( jditions. and should allow killings to be carried on in a reasonably orderly . ■ manner.