MEAT MARKETING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 202, 27 August 1943, Page 4

MEAT MARKETING

GOOD CLEARANCES FIXATION OF SCHEDULES (P.A.) Wellington, Aug. 26. Satisfaction at smooth working of the agreement made between the Government and the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board in regard to the purchase a meat, was expressed by the board’s chairman, Mr. T. A. Duncan, at the annual meeting of the board’s electoral committee to-day. He said that the good clearance which took place at the end of last season gave them practically empty refrigerated stores to start the new season. It was anticipated that at the end of this season the stores would again be practically depleted. Mr. Duncan said that in the arrangements made the Government agreed to purchase the normal exportable surplus of meat for the 194.243 production year, subject to any restrictions on killings that might be necessary by shipping, marketing, or other difficulties. The procedure was that the Marketing Department would purchase export meat products at the f.o.b. prices which had been determined after agreement with the board and representatives of the meat operators. The opening price would be the same as last year, and after the opening schedule had been established any rise or fall in the prices received' by freezing companies for pelts and hides, and the increments on wool, were to be reflected in the schedule price. It was also agreed to consult the board in regard to the administration of the special account which was to be created from the proceeds secured from the additional prices granted by the United Kingdom Government, and the agreed reductions in the Marketing' Department’s f.o.b. price schedule. Against this special account would be debited the assessed costs and liabilities incurred by the Government in respect of the purchase of export meat products, both frozen and canned, and the erection and operation of emergency cool storage and canning plants. If at the end of the emergency period there was a surplus remaining in the account, the Government and the board would consult to determine ways and means by which such amount could be utilised for the benefit of the industry. Should there be a deficit in the special account at the end of the emergency period, such, deficit would remain the responsibility of the Government.

It was also further agreed that th a operations of freezing companies and buying operators should again be subject to an audit by the Government in association with the Meat Board. The audit was for the purpose of a general survey as a basis for future discussions on the variations, if any, to be effected in freezing and slaughtering charges and buying expenses.

MEAT SCHEDULES

(P.A.) Wellington, Aug. 26. “We are quite in accord with your views on this matter, but we have to work on the average for these schedules,” said the chairman of the Meat Board (Mr. T. A. Duncan) at the annual meeting of the elector,-'.! committee when replying to general complaints that the present schedules of -meat prices were too low. The point was raised by Mr. C. R. Edgecumbe (Waipukurau), who quoted figures relating to shorn Tambs .killed on owners’ accounts during February and March at one cooperative works. On one line of 614 the owner received Is a head profit over the schedule prices, and on other lines the profit to owners above ranged from Is Id to 2s 2d. This works was also able to pay a rebate of Is a head on grown sheep, 6d on Jambs, and Is 3d a quarter on beef, and was still able to pay 10 per cent, on its original capital. It was obvious from these figures that the schedule rate was not high enough.

The chairman said that one of the difficulties was that the Government was too long in paying out. The board would endeavour to have this position improved.