Pigmeat imports a 'scandal’-M.P.

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 11

Pigmeat imports a 'scandal’-M.P.

PA Wellington 2 The Opposition spokes- . man on agriculture Sir - Basil Arthur has called for ' an immediate end to im- • ports of pigmeat into New Zealand. ; He asserted that the . price of pork was being held at artificially high levels while access for • large amounts of the meat ; was still being granted. He described this as a • "scandal and the height of economic stupidity. “Some enterprising individuals have managed to ; open up some new markets, but they have been slapped in the face by an '. official policy that conj tinues to bring the stuff into the country from . Australia, Canada, Ireland

and Sweden,” Sir Basil said.

This was a strange form of charity. “The are our direct competitors in the potential pork export markets and may, in fact, be guilty of some underhand tactics, especially in the South Pacific markets,” Sir Basil said.

“The Pig Marketing Authority claims that we have to accept Australian meat under the Australia and New Zealand Free Trade agreement, yet the Australians continue to exclude ours.” Sir Basil said it was essential to develop a policy that would ensure stability and, self-sufficiency on the growing pigmeat market.