EXPANDED MEAT QUOTA

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21409, 1 May 1941, Page 8

EXPANDED MEAT QUOTA

PURCHASE BY UNITED KINGDOM t— c 248,000 TONS FOR THIS PRODUCTION YEAR 37.77 PER CENT ABOVE PREVIOUS MAXIMUM ADVISED (By Telegraph-—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday The announcement that the meat contract between the United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments for the current season had been completed was made by the Minister of Marketing, the Hen. J. G. Barclay, today. In this contract the United Kingdom Government agreed to purchase 248,000 tons of meat within the production year ending September 30, 1941. This quantity was considerably below the figure of 300,000 tons contracted for during the first year of the war, said the Minister, but was substantially above the quantity of 180,000 tons, which at one stage was the maximum the United Kingdom Government considered could be shipped and purchased during the present year. The increase amounted to 37.77 per cent.

Australian Comparison “This contract secured by New Zealand for 248,000 tons,” continued the Minister, “is comparable with Australia’s contract figure of 198.000 tons, but in order to make the position quite clear it should be emphasised that these contract quantities as they relate to both countries are ' not necessarily identical with the actual quantities of meat which will i be shipped to the end of the present year. “It can be definitely stated, however, that the Australian contract of 198,000 tons represents the same proportional reduction from their previous contract as in the case of New Zealand, and there is no suggestion that Australia will ship a greater proportion of its meat to the i United Kingdom than will New 1 Zealand.

“In regard to both countries the attitude of the United Kingdom Government throughout the year has been to lift all the meat that was humanly possible under the circumstances, and at all times an equitable ratio was being maintained.” Negotiation'.; Continue The Minister concluded by saying that although the New Zealand Government was pleased to have completed a definite contract with the United Kingdom covering the present year, the sir/lus quantity of meat over and above the contract quantity would still present a major problem which this Dominion would have to face. In this respect negotiations were continuing with the United Kingdom, and it was also hoped that the development of our canning facilities would greatly assist in utilising the various classes of meat which could not be shipped in the usual manner.