INCREASE WILL EXCEED £5,000,000

Chronicle (Levin), 2 July 1949, Page 5

INCREASE WILL EXCEED £5,000,000

rjIpV : • ' " LONDON, July 1. The British. Ministry of Food has agreed to increase prices for Nety £ ea} and m,eat and dairy produce supplied during the coming year by 7^ per cent in eaeh ease — the maximpm perrpitted increase under the terms of the two long term agreements governing the sale of these eommodities by New Zealand to Britain. Xp th.e c.as.e-. of w.eat this increase, on the basis of last year's production figures, means an additional £2.148,000 to New Zealand. In the ease of dairy produce, it means an additional £3,250,000 or a tptal increase in New Zealand 's prospective earnings of £5,398,000.

Commenting upon the meat agreement in which he lbd the New Zealand delegation, Mr. F. P. Walsh said it should be well received by New Zealand farmers, partieularly in view of the Government 's proposals to increase tho country 's overall production within the next six years by an additional 16,000. tons of butter, 16,000 tons of b.eef, i 16,000 tons of lamb; 4000 tons mutton and 4200 tqna of wool. ' ' This increase in our production "Vpl greatly benefit New Zealand ecouQmy and play a very important part in assisting us to fqed our kith and kin in the Old Country, ? ■ sai4 Mr Walsh. "Our negotiations with various depaftmental officers here and the Ministers eoncerned, were most amicable. All of them expressedi th.e deepest appreciation of the assistance given to this country by New Zealand, both during the waf periqd and since the war. They expressed particular appreciation of the gift parcels spnt from Npw Zealand. TJres^ hay0 ampunted during the postwar period to 15 pounds of gift food from every jnan, woman and child in New Zealapdri'