MEAT CONTRACT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1941, Page 6

MEAT CONTRACT

CONCLUDED WITH BRITAIN PURCHASE OF 248,000 TONS. WITHIN PRODUCTION YEAR ENDING IN SEPTEMBER. ißy Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. An announcement that the meat contract between the United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments for the current season had been finalised was made by the Minister of Marketing (Mr Barclay) today. In this contract, the United Kingdom Government has agreed to purchase 248,000 tons of meat within the production year ending September 30, 1941. This quantity is considerably below the figure of 300.000 tons contracted for during the first year of the war, but is substantially above the quantity of 180,000 tons which at one stage was the maximum the United Kingdom Government considered could be shipped and purchased during the present year. AUSTRALIA NOT FAVOURED. “This contract secured by New Zealand for 248.000 tons,” the Minister stated, “is comparable with Australia’s contract figure of 189.000 tons, but in order to make the position quite clear it should be emphasised that these contract quantities, as they relate to both countries, are not necessarily identical with the actual quantities of meat which will be shipped to the end ot the present year. It can be definitely stated, however, that the Australian contract of 189.000 tons represents the same proportional reduction from their previous contract as in the case of New Zealand, and there is no suggestion that Australia will ship a greater proportion of their meat to the United Kingdom than will New Zealand. In regard to both countries, the attitude of the United Kingdom Government throughout the year has been to lift ail the meat that was humanly possible under the circumstances, and at all times an equitable ratio was being maintained." REMAINING PROBLEM. The Minister concluded by saying that although the New Zealand Government was pleased to -have finalised a definite contract with the United Kingdom covering the present year, the surplus quantity of meat over and above the contract quantity would still present a major problem which this Dominion would have to face. In this respect, negotiations were still continuing with the United Kingdom and it was also hoped that the development of our canning facilities would greatly assist in utilising various classes of. meat which could not be shipped in the usual manner.