MEAT QUOTAS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 92, 12 January 1935, Page 8

MEAT QUOTAS

Negotiations With Britain COMING DISCUSSIONS Long-term Agreements to be Sought CASE OF PIG-BREEDERS “There is no material change in the position regarding quotas or restriction of New Zealand meat exports to the United Kingdom this year,” the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, explained to a representative of “The Dominion” yesterday. “As already announced, we are working on short-dated agreements having effect until the end of March. Negotiations with a view to securing long-term arrangements tare going forward with the British Government. In addition to direct communication between the two Governments by telegraph cable, the question is to be discussed further in London. The London conferences on the subject will be resumed on the twentieth of this month between representatives of the British Government and the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir James Parr, who will be supported by Mr. David Jones, chairman of the Meat Producers’ Board. Long-Term Agreements.

"It is. of course, impossible lo say what the outcome of the discussions may be, but every effort is being made to arrange satisfactory agreements over a longer period. The question involves vital interests for the Dominion, and nothing will be left, undone to obtain the best possible results. In all probability the problems affecting both countries will be discussed during the Ministerial conferences to be held in London on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the King’s accession. In the meantime the position has not altered.” As regards the latest restriction on the exportation of porker pigs from New Zealand to the United Kingdom, none of the Ministers who were invited to discuss the embargo showed any desire to comment on questions of policy involved’ in the ban. It was pointed out, however, that the restriction which was gazetted last Thursday in compliance with the requirements of the British Government in respect of the quantities which may arrive in the United Kingdom on or before March 31 is merely temporary, and will cease at the end of March. Until all the returns of slaughterings throughout New Zealand during the short-dated period of export restriction have become available to the author!ties, it will not be possible to determine the effect of the embargo on the primary industries engaged in raising porker pigs. Administrators and representatives of exporters, however, do not consider that the economic effect will be serious. Any total of surplus carcases likely to be affected must, in the circumstances, be guesswork, but officials closely interested in the export of porker pigs suggest that 50,000 would be flairly near the mark. The number may be rather more in view of the fact that the industry of pigbreeding has expanded rapidly in New Zealaiul during recent years. The number of pigs (660,393) returned last year* for instance, was the highest ever recorded in this country. The value of frozen pork exported in the 1933-34 financial year was £950,183, compared with £393,726 the previous year. Slaughter of Pigs. During the five years ended March 31 last, no fewer than 2,904,370 pigs were slaughtered in New Zealand, representing approximately 2,900,000 cwt. of pork, bacon, and ham. of which slightly more than one-third was exported. Consumption in the Dominion is’ exceptionally heavy, the average annual consumption per head of the population being 28ib. 1 The position of the veal industry remains unsatisfactory, and represents a problem for afl those concerned. Slaughtering of “bobby” calves more than doubled in the past five years, increasing from 443,7.15 careq«es in 1930 to 954,410 last year. As a consequence of trade agreements with the British Government, an embargo was placed on the export of “bobby” calf meat, and there had been no exports since July 12 last. year. The question is receiving consideration, but apparently there is no immediate prospect of the bap being lifted.