IMPORTED MUTTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1938, Page 3

IMPORTED MUTTON

WELSH FARMERS’ ACTION. MINISTRY'S AID SOUGHT. Addressing the Council of Agriculture for Wales at Shrewsbury, Mr W. S. Morrison, Minister of Agriculture, referred to the part which agriculture could play in defence in war-time. They were striving to increase the fertility of the soil and improve the health' of live stock, and, without disturbing the normal relationship of arable and grassland, build up reserves which would not only be the soundest basis for expansion of food supplies in time of war, but a permanent asset in time of peace. Mr Morrison commended the big increase in the number of attested herds in Wales and said that an extension of the present scheme was being planned to enable payments corresponding to those made to owners of milk-producing herds to be made in respect of herds maintained primarily for beef production. Speaking of the prices of home-bred sheep and lambs, which in recent weeks had been lower for the time of the year than for some years past, the Minister said it had been suggested that the firmness in the price of frozen mutton and lamb in face of increased supplies might be due in large measure to the intensive advertising campaign conducted on behalf of those products in the United Kingdom. That suggested an obvious line of action for the home producer. The following motion was carried: “That the Council of Agriculture for Wales, while appreciating the consideration that the Minister has given to representations made concerning conditions in the mutton and Jamb market, are of opinion that the serious position which now exists demands immediate action to secure the regulation of imported supplies on a basis which will ensure remunerative prices to the home producer, Or, alternatively, to provide assistance to the industry under a system of subsidy payments on lines analagous to the beef subsidy.” In moving the resolution, Aiderman B. P. Lewis said Welsh and other farmers were facing that position with a good deal of trepidation, believing as they did that the autumn prices would be extremely disappointing, and they thought that there should be no delay in doing something to improve the position. After the motion had been carried, Mr Morrison told the meeting all the courses that were open to him under the law to improve the position he was now taking, and the Ministry would do all they could to try to improve that side of the agricultural industry.