FROZEN MEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1940, Page 9

FROZEN MEAT

LIFTING OF EMBARGO. STORAGE PROBLEMS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, October 15. The fact that but for the outbreak of war, which caused the lifting of the embargo by Great Britain, a million carcases of mutton would have remained in storage in New Zealand unwanted by the world was revealed at a meeting of the Otago provincial council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union today when an address on the opera-

tions of the Meat Board was given by Mr J. D. Revie, chairman of the electoral committee of the board. “But for the war.” the chairman, Mr R. S. Thompson, said, “those million carcases would have remained in our stores and the farming community would be in a hopeless position today. There are 20,000,000 people in Britain who had less than 10s. a week to spend on food, and would have welcomed the, the meat, but not only was the Imperial Government prepared to let its own people starve, but it was also prepared to ruin the farming industry in New “That position,” he said, “must never arise again.” Outlining the position of the New Zealand meat industry at the outbreak of war, Mr Revie said there were 44.000 tons of surplus meat in storage in the Dominion on August 31. 1939, and there did not seem to be a possible chance of disposing of the carcasses. The United Kingdom Government could not, and would not, take this surplus. Strenuous endeavours were made throughout the world to dispose of this surplus meat but without success. Then came the war. Mr Revie said, and the embargo was lifted. New Zealand was thus able to dispose of this surplus meat. During the past year there were, of course, no embargoes on New Zealand meat and it was practically certain that the freezing works would be empty when the new season

began. “There is great need for more storage for frozen meat in New Zealand,” Mr Revie said. “Some freezing companies, I feel sure, have not played the game. At the present time we have only 70 per cent, storage whereas we should have 100 per cent, for our meat. The Government should make available to the freezing companies all the material necessary for providing more storage space. The freezing companies have grave responsibility to utilise and erect additional storage wherever possible. “Grave events are happening overseas and it is possible that we may have to face an emergency,” Mr Revie said. “Consequently we should have full storage for our meat in case of such a happening. The war is spreading and the seas are becoming more and more dangerous every day. In a meat-producing country such as ours it is essential to have the greatest, storage possible.”