EXPORT OF MUTTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1939, Page 3

EXPORT OF MUTTON

SHIPMENTS IN ENGLAND. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. All freezing companies in New Zealand have been, advised by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board that not more than a total of 45 per cent of all mutton held in store at April 15, together' with subsequent killings to September 30, may be shipped in vessels scheduled to arrive in the United Kingdom or on before December 10, 1939. It is estimated oy the board that shipments representing 45 per cent will fill the quota allocation of mutton and lamb for arrival during the current year. The percentages are calculated on weight.

The 45 per cent quota includes any shipments of mutton already made from stocks in store from April 15. The 1939 quota for mutton and lamb is 3 per cent less than that for 1938. The Acting-Minister of Marketing, Mr Lee Martin, in an interview last evening, said the quantative restriction was 3 per cent on last year’s landings of mutton and lamb combined. As mutton was the commodity realising the lower price the restrictions would be made to apply to it only. Drought and other conditions resulted in abnormal killings of mutton in the early months of this year, and the restrictions would be consequently heavy for the remainder of the year. The Meat Board seemed to have arranged the spread of shipments in the only way possible, and the circular issued by the board did not call for any comment on his part. Reference to the situation that had arisen because of the restriction placed by the British authorities on this year’s imports of New Zealand mutton and lamb into the United Kingdom was . made by the Minister of Marketing, Mr Nash, in February. He said the Government and the Meat Board agreed m viewing in a serious light the new situation resulting from the United Kingdom’s changed policy. They regretted that the United Kingdom had felt it necessary to take this step, but they were confident that the difficulties within New Zealand could be surmounted. “As a result pf full discussion, the Government and the New Zealand Meat Producer’s Board agreed in announcing that there will be no restriction in sheep or lamb killings in New Zealand during the year 1939,” said Mr Nash. “Even though killings may be expected to exceed the quota at present allowed by the United Kingdom, the Government and the board will take all steps that are required to deal with any surplus.” Meat stocks on hand in cold storage in New Zealand as at April 15, compare as follows with the quantities on the corresponding date last year: — 1938-39 1937-38

NO KILLING RESTRICTIONS, STATEMENT BY MEAT BOARD MEMBER. DUNEDIN, May 8. Mr James Begg, a member of the Meat Board, stated tonight that there would be no restrictions in the killing of mutton this year, but only a per? centage of the mutton killed would be shipped. Therefore there would be a carry over. “All lambs will be shipped,” Mr Begg added. “Under arrangement with Great Britain the full quota of shipments have to arrive in England not later than January 2. Any surplus over the quota is not allowed to arrive before January 1, and these shipments will be included in the quota for the following year. “It is essential to have the full quota in England in time, as the following year’s quota will be determined on it. The Meat Board cannot foretell what early lambs will be available each year, and it has to have a surplus of mutton in store, to make up the quota if necessary to the required figure.”

Chilled beef 6,869 968 Frozen beef 35,314 ,35,161 Wethers 796,608 436,210 Ewes .... 711,875 602,505 Lambs ... 3,195,019 3,033,783 Porkers 98,674 120,931 Baconers 50,495 67,755 Boneless b.eef 134,302 143,829 Bobby Veal 22,320 29,802 Sundries 93,120 83,673