AGAINST N.Z. MEAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 584, 9 February 1929, Page 12

AGAINST N.Z. MEAT

U.S. PROPOSES TARIFF GOOD MARKET MENACED Tho New Zealand Meat Producers Bour.l has learned by its agent in New I York that interested parties are urging the United fcStates Congress to increase the tariff on imported meat entering the United States. The matter will soon come before Congress. “To counteract this movement, the board’s agent is liling a protest at Washington, and is having the assistance of several importers,” says an official statement. “Should Congress favourably consider the above request and the tariff be so raised that this market is closed to our frozen meat, it w 11 have a decided effect on our cattle industry. It is generally known that there was a very marked development in our export trade of frozen meat with the United States last season. The Meat Board has on several occasions made trial shipments to open up and develop this market. “The total quantity of frozen meat shipped from New Zealand to the United States of America for the year ending November 30, 1928, was as follows; — 34.944 quarters of beef; 9.255 carcases of mutton, 32,514 carcases of lamb. 51,808 bags of boneless beef, 1,556 sides of veal, 1,343 bags of boneless veal, and 2.338 packages of sundries. It is estimated that the above shipments represent a value of something over £400.000, so it will be seen what a valuable outlet this market has been to the farmers of New Zealand, particularly those engaged in the raising of beef.

“At the present time there is an embargo on the shipment of meat from South America to the United States owing to the prevalence of foot and mouth disease in the former country. Owing to the freedom from disease in our live stock, New Zealand is one of the few countries at present allowed to ship meat to the United States. Tlip values received for cattle last year have given a big impetus to the production of beef, and if the United States market is closed through an increased tariff it will give a decided setback to the cattle industry in most parts of the Dominion, particularly in the North Island. It is necessary to have cattle, and if our herds of cattle decrease deterioration of our pastures will follow, which will also react on the carrying capacity for sheep and lambs.”