N.Z. MEAT EXPORT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 115, 1 June 1937, Page 6

N.Z. MEAT EXPORT

-Press &»BocistloH.)

Do Agreements Still Apply RESTRICTIONS ENDED

(Br Telefraph-

t AUCKLAND, Last - Night. . On iffie facts available to the meafc exporters, the export trade is now back to the position iu which it was in 1934 before any export reetrictions were imposed, except that permission has still to be obtained from the Meat Board before slxippixxg pigs of baconer weights. The last of the known restrictions were removed on May 3 last, these affecting beef. Nevertheless ifi is assumed by, meat exporters approached on the subject that quota agreements with Great Britain are in existence, hut it is thought that they are on such a Iiberal 6cale that the maximum shipmenta permitted under them have not yet been , approached. "The whole. situation is a mystery,"' remarked an exporter. "We had been carrying on under agreements that should now have expired, hut no announcement has been made as to whether they have been renewed or fresh arrangements made, Neither the Government nor the Meat Board has told us anything.'5 The recent removal of restfrictioua on beef has given significance to th« quota question, Inform&tion of their removal was given in memorandn direct to the exporters from the Meat Board on April 3 and May 3. For two years it was not possible to export the neefe portion of bqbby calveg, ©r to export second quality cow heef forequarters, or boneless cow beef derived from forequarters. Freedom to export these types of meat is apparentiy the reason for the jump in the export figures of beef in the first two weeks of May, when the prohibition was Ixfted. Quarters shipped . totalled 10,369, against 4,569 in tlxe corresponding period of April and 3,553 iu tlxe first week of March. » " It is thought in the trade that if the apparentiy free export of meat wer« the result of a trade agreement fixed by the Minister of Marketing in Engiand, the result would have been announced, if not by him then by th« British Government. Canada has fixed up an agreement and South Africa is getting one, but no - report has coma from Mr, Nash. In the circumstances the absence o£ any official announcement is described.as not only curious ; but unfair tcr those engagmg in tha ; export trade. "