NEW MEAT PRICES HIGHLY. SATISFACTORY

Chronicle (Levin), 31 July 1946, Page 2

NEW MEAT PRICES HIGHLY. SATISFACTORY

-Press Association

british butchers' tribute to new zealand

Bv Telearavh-

WELLINGTON, July 30. The inereased prices granted by the United Kingdom Government for meat and edible otfals for the 1946-47 season. could be regarded as highly satisfac--torv, stated Mr. G. II. Grigg, ehairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers.' Board, in an intervievv today. Mr. Grigg has just returned from a trip to the United Kingdom where he represented the meat producers of the Doininion in prelimiuary diseussions leading up to the linal negotiations betwTeen the New Zealand and United Kingdom Governments for inereased prices under bulk [iurchase contracts. "The case for inereased prices for mCat was based on the case of inereased farni production costs in New Zealand, compiled by the Meat Board," said Mr. Grigg. "No advantage was taken of the present sellers' marlcet to obtain still furthcr iucreases, a good will gesture that should further ceinent the good relations existing between the two countries aud lessen our diffic.ulties in the future wlien the position reverts, as it ultimately will, 10 a buvers' market. "At the earliest possible opportunity the Meat Board will "be presenting a case to the Economic Sta bilisation Commission for an increase in the opening meat schedule prices for the 194647 season, based on increases in farm costs. It is hoped the increases will be approved and be sufficient to provide funcis to enable tlie i'armer to cover his inereased costs and enable him to carry out deferred maintenance. "Wliilst at Home," stated Mr. Grigg, "I had tlie pleasureaof contacting relail and wholesale butchors' organisations and also individual traders outside those organisations. The diseussions that ensued wero inost valuable and enlightening. Without exceplion tliese representatives of tlie meat trade in the United Kingdom paid tribute to New Zealand 's wai" efl'ort not only from tlie point of view of production but also with regard to our successful ell'orts towards maintaining prewar standards of gradiug aud quality. The future of New Zealand 's meat cxport trade depends 011 the maintenance of quality aud 011 supplying tlie class of meat required by the cousumer oversoas. The trade expressed tluinks for making available additionai meat classed iu New Zealand as eiuergency grades, even though tlie muttoii was grossly fat and the lambs 011 the thiu side, but empliasised that it was mutually undesirable to continue sending this iwwi4mhrer QLUT ai^ptejy "In diseussions with the trade it was evident the future demand wiU be, as in the past, for high quality lightweight carcases. ' ' The Board, througli its British representative, intends to continue to work in close liarmony with the meat trade in the United Kingdom which is sucli a vital link in the chain reaching from the New Zealand producer to the United Kingdom cousumer." Mr. Grigg stated that he also had the opportunity of studying conditions genei'iiliy at lionie. " We had little practicai ap[)reciation in New Zealand, of the trenienduus burden earried by the houseliolder in tlie United Kingdom," he said. "it was heartreuding to see tlie housowife queueing up day after day for tlie necessities of life so meagrely granted under tlie existing ratiou scale. if any seetion of tlie eonimunity in the United Kingdom mefits adniiration, it is the liousewives. I have returned with a convictioii to do all possible in niy private or public capacity, to assist in alleviatiug tlieir troubles. 1 appeal to all sections of the fanning eonimunity to assist mu in this direction by producing to tlie utniost of their ability until rationing cau be abolished. The demand is urgent. I am coniident the appeal will uot fall 011 deaf ears. "