MEAT INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1941, Page 8

MEAT INDUSTRY

EXPORT RESTRICTIONS PARTIALLY LIFTED. ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The partial lifting of the restrictions on the acceptance of ewe and wether mutton by works for freezing for export was announced at the weekend by the. Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay. He also gave the decision 'of the Government. in regard to lambs and boner cow beef. Mr Barclay said that the possibilities of placing quantities of export quality meat on the local market had been fully investigated, and that plans had been prepared to ensure that adequate supplies would be made available to the public at reasonable prices. The Government’s decision is as follows: — First, insofar as the South Island is concerned, on and after Monday, April 7, wethers and ewes may be accepted by freezing works for freezing for export up to maximum weight of 521 b. with a tolerance of 5 per cent, up to 561 b. weight.

Secondly, in the North Island, on and after April 7, prime wethers, four-tooth and upward, and up to 601 b. weight, may be accepted by freezing works for export, with a 5 per cent, tolerance up to 641 b. weight. In addition, a 5 per cent, tolerance will be allowed to cover wethers which may be graded at the works as second grade, though originally drafted as prime wethers. It should be noted that the acceptance of ewe mutton is restricted to the South Island, and that only wether mutton may be accepted in the North Island. Thirdly, on and after April 7, second grade lambs of under 261 b. weight are not to be accepted by freezing companies for killing for export, in both islands. Next Season’s Wool Clip. “This decision.” said Mr. Barclay, "has been reached only after giving the most careful considerations to the requests and recommendation macle by many sections of the industry, and also after very full, discussion with members of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. The Government is strongly of the opinion that next season’s wool clip should give the maximum yield possible, and that for this purpose the flocks of the Dominion should be maintained at the highest possible level. “The Government has explored every means of securing alternative outlets for the meat now in store or to be killed. Such alternatives include the extension of our canning facilities to the maximum extent, and already very substantial orders have been secured from- the United Kingdom for canned beef and mutton. At present our canneries are going flat out to fulfil the orders we have on hand, and I want to urge all workers engaged on this task to give of their best, for by so doing they will be assisting nobonly this country but our war effort, and particularly the Old Country. “Arrangement will also be made whereby freezing companies and operators who are not equipped with the necessary canning facilities will be enabled to sell a straight run of boneless cow beef cuts to the canneries at the equivalent of the current f.o.b. prices payable for boneless cow beef by the Marketing Department.”