Reported Offer Of HI. Mutton And Lamb Surplus For South African Market

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 March 1950, Page 5

Reported Offer Of HI. Mutton And Lamb Surplus For South African Market

Union Minister Of Agriculture Denies Suggestions Of Shortage

LONDON, Marph 23 (Rec. 7.5 pm).—The possibility of New Zealand mutton and lamb being exported to South Africa was recently discussed in the Union’s House of Assembly. In answer to a question the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. S. P. Leroux, said that the Durban and District Meat Traders’ Association had been offered 50,000 carcases at 7.3 d per pound for prime ewe mutton and 13.03 d, 13.46 d, and 13.72 d per pound for lamb c.i.f. Durban.

Since the offer was made, Mr Leroux said, he had ascertained that New Zealand’s contract with the United Kingdom covered the total exportable surplus of meat and precluded any possibility of supplying mutton and lamb to the South African Government.

“Should the Union thus wish to obtain mutton and lamb from New Zealand, the British Ministry of Food would have to release part of the meat supplied to it by New Zealand under the contract.

"The Union Government is not prepared to approach the United Kingdom Government, for such release as it feels the meat supply position in the Union does not justify such action,” he said.

When it was suggested by a member that the meat position in South Africa was so bad that thousands of people in Capetown had not had any meat for weeks, Mr Lerour denied that the position was as serious as that.—Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.