EMBARGO ON STOCK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1938, Page 7

EMBARGO ON STOCK

CASE FOR THE REMOVAL STRESSED IMPORTATION OF FRESH BLOOD. REPRESENTATION. TO BE MADE TO GOVERNMENT. The urgent necessity for lifting the embargo on the importation of stud stock into New Zealand was stressed by Mr J. James and Sir William Perry at the annual meeting of the Masterton A. and P. Association on Wednesday. It was decided to ask the Government to assist in the transit cost of theimportation of stud stock into the Dominion. After paying a tribute to the work of the Meat Board, Mr James said that now that New Zealand was well up the ladder with her mptton, lamb and chilled beef, the question arose as to whether we were going to stay at the top of the tree in face of strong competition from Australia and the Argentine. Fresh blood was needed and it was essential that the embargo should be removed. He moved: “That the Government be asked to assist in the transit cost of the importation of stud stock in New Zealand.” “I feel certain,” he added, “that if we are going to keep our end up we must import stud stock. I think that the Government should come to the aid of the breeders, who are doing their best to maintain the best world standards.” In seconding the motion, Sir William Perry said there was no embargo on the importation of stud stock into Australia, although the animals had to go into quarantine. The stock went into Australia freight free. For cattle there was a flat rate of £34 13s to cover the cost of the crates and feed on board ship. In the case of sheep the flat rate for crates and feed was £ll Ils. The Government subsidised imported cattle to the extent of £5O to cover quarantine and other expenses, while sheep were subsidised up to £2O a head.

Six head of cattle imported into New Zealand from Scotland, Sir William added, would cost £ll3 each, not including the exchange. Sheep cost £52 7s per head to bring into New Zealand, apart from the exchange, which would be £2O over and above the exchange paid on the purchase price. In the circumstances, New Zealand was under a great disadvantage in competing with Australia. The position seemed to him to be quite wrong.

Mr A. R. Falloon said it was a step in the right direction and the president Mr P. R. Welch said that the transit cost and the exchange made importation almost prohibitive. The motion was carried unanimously.