MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 120, 19 April 1940, Page 10

MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

EXAMINATION OF TRICES. PRODUCERS’ INTERESTS WATCHED. “Tho interests of the producers arc being closely watched,” says the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board in a statement just issued in reference to the prices being paid by exporters and freezing companies for the various classes of fat stock. “Tho board regularly examines costings taken out in respect to lamb, wethers, ewes, beef, and pork. Those costings take into account the latest advice relating to tho market for by-pro-ducts not taken over by the Government. Tho weight of wool is arrived at by means of returns collected every week by the Controller of Primary Industries from every freezing company, showing the weekly pull of wool from lambs and sheep in respect of each company and its separata exporter clients. “Costings are then worked out by tho Meat Board, based on tho respective weight grades and other considerations, and allowing for, the varying charges for slaughtering, bagging, freezing, to f.o.b. in the different distrets. This enables tho margin left to the operator or freezing company to lie ascertained after payment for the meat by the Marketing Department, on flic basis of the prices agreed on with the British Government.” The board recalls that in the protracted negotiations when the purchaso of New Zealand’s exportable surplus of meat was arranged on the outbreak ot war. a committee fully representative of all interests put in a great amount of work on the procedure to be adopted in connection with the purchase of fat stock for freezing and shipment. Tho following resolution was recommended to the Government: “The method of procedure should be that tho Marketing Department pay the fixed f.o.b. pricos for all classes of meat, purchased by tho United Kingdom Government to' the freezing companies and operators, the price paid to the grower being left in the hands of the trade. The trade to provide the Department of Agriculture with returns showing the prices paid to farmers and what deductions have been made to cover the intervening charges from farm to f.0.b., . together with any further information required in order to enable the department to decide whether the prices being paid are fair and reasonable. The open door to farmers to bo maintained, subject probably to conditions which will bo laid down by the Marketing Department, involving the possible pooling of farmers' individual consignments.” In accepting this method of procedure, (he Minister of Marketing (Hon. \V. Nash) did so provided the operations of the freezing companies, both ns regards freezing services and buying, were subject to an audit pither by the Auditor-General or by a private firm of auditors approved of bv the Government and reporting to it. . Tn all these negotiations, tho hoard adds, the Government has treated the board as its immediate negotiator in all matters connected with tho United Kingdom Government purchase of frnzon meat; and the examination of schedule prices is one of the steps being taken hv the board to ensure that, the price paid to the producer for liis fat stock adequately reflects not only the price being paid bv tho British Government for the meat, nnd wool, but tho current values of br-products not purchased by the British Government.