Strong Position Of N.Z. Meat Industry Emphasised

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1942, Page 4

Strong Position Of N.Z. Meat Industry Emphasised

Press Assn.

Space for full year's production in cool stores.

Wellington, Last Night.

"I can congratulate the meat industry on the strong position it is in to-day, compared with 18 months ago," said the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, addressing the electoral committee of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board to-day. "Unless something Junforseen happens in the next .month or two we will be almost clear of export produce when the new iseason's meat comes on the market. I "Though the cables from the United . Kingdom Govemment suggest we cannot jexpect the run in the coming season that we have had this year," the Minister continued, "we will be all right for storage. We have space for almost a full year's production in our cool stores." It was possible now, the Minister said, to make a fairly close estimate of export killings and shipments for the meat year which would end on September 30. Killings for export were estimated at 268,439 tons and killings [or canning totalled 61,891 tons. The total kill. therefore, was 330,330 tons, compared with 330.000 tons estimated at the beginning of Ihe year. The stock position showed an estimated carry-over of meat for export of 44,812 tons at September 30, 19-12. "This must be considered a very healthy position," said the Minister. "In ! fact, having regard of future liftings | jand requn-ements, our stocks are rather jbare, and some difficulty may be experi- i jenced in the supply of meat cargoes in 1 'he next two or three months. Aus-

tralia, because of drought and increased local consumption, has not been in a position to export meat, and this has been an unexpected benefit to our industry and has put it in a very happy position." It was hoped by the end of September to get away 300,000 tons to the United Kingdom and 1529 tons to other destinations, an amount never dreamed of at this time last year, said the Minister., The estimated carry-over of 44,812 tons was only a little more than half what it was last year. It was estimated that 21,500 tons of carry-over meat would . be required for the forces in New Zealand and the Pacific area, Ieaving only 23,313 tons available for the United Kingdom before the new seasons meat came on the market. The Minister announced that it was estimated that the meat pool formed last year would show a surplus of £439.952, not including 11,000 tons of ewe mutton, which it was hoped would get awav and which would swell the surplus further. It had been suggested that during the past year the meat board had not been so closely associated with the department as it should he. The Minister said that if that were so it was because both the Marketing Department and the Department of Agriculture were understaffed. To meet the position in the coming year it had been decided to appoint a committee for consultation on policy matters. The personnel would be the general manager of the meat board, Mr. J. Fraser. the primary industries controller, Mr. A. H. Cockayne, and the director of export marketing. Mr. G. A. Duncan. If they were not available, their deputies could act. Mr. T. A. Duncan. Hunterville, and Mr. J. Begg, Dunedin, were re-elected producers' representatives on the board. Mr. A. Briscoe Moore. North Auckland, was the other candidate-