BETTER PIG MEATS AND WHEAT PRICES NEEDED

Chronicle (Levin), 12 November 1947, Page 5

BETTER PIG MEATS AND WHEAT PRICES NEEDED

WELLINGTON, Nov, 11. ' Unless satisfactery prices for pig meats and wheat were announced ini mediately the production of these essentials must be written off in the Aid for Britain eampaign. Unless the Government promptly sanctioned the importatiop of large nunibers of farm tractors and implements only a sinali portion of the production goal to help Bfitain would be attained. These were the fundamental considerations in a critical situation which had now deve'oped in Xew Zealand, said Mr. R. G Buekleton (chairman of the Federated Farmers' Aid to Britain Committee; in a statement. The facts of the erisis had been reported to the Dominion council of Federated Farmers, he continued, and they were undoubtedly known to the Gov^-ninent. The duty rested upon, the Governinent to decide these grave issues without further delay, thus giving true force co the Aid to Britain eampaign, in which farming production was a hasie faetor. Instant action was imperative, said Mr. Buekleton, for the eampaign was already beiug seriously prejudiced for lack of a decision. Mr. Buekleton said one instance where it was essential to spend dollars to help Britain was 1 in regard to tractors, for whieh importers had orders for 6900. Only 3000 were available from dollar sources in' 1948. The Government had not issued a singie licence for tractors from dollar sources for next year. Fe'w, if any, British tractors would be available until the end of 1948 or the beginning of 1949. Regarding the farmers' request for an additional penny a pound for pig meats to cover increased production costs, and to eneourage output, Federat ed Farmers knew from inquiries in Lcin don that Britain was agreeable to pay an additional three-fifths of a pennv i sterling if increased exports of pig meats were assured, It was a disserviee to Britain not to draw attention to the fact that exports could not be increased , without a eomparatively small additional payment. It 3eemed useless asking for greater wheat production nntil a satisfactory ' price^ was announced, he said, and indications were that the wheat acreage next year would be even less than last year, Mr. Buekleton said Federated Farmers had also asked the Goveru ment to consider t.he restrietion of pig meat consumption on the New Zealand market by again withdrawing pork The local eonsumpti^n of pork had increased sinee 1939 by ahout 7000 tons yeariy. "We have been hoping for a favourable deeision regarding this but so. fay no finality has been reaehed, ' ' Mr. Buekleton added.