MEAT EXPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1941, Page 6

MEAT EXPORTS

DIFFICULTIES CAUSE BOARD MUCH CONCERN STRONG REPRESENTATIONS MADE TO GOVERNMENT. MEETING WAR SITUATION. The conditions which arose during the season had given the board grave concern, states a passage in the annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. “On March 24,” the report states, “the Government decided that as from that day acceptance by the freezing companies of stock for freezing for export would bo confined to lambs, prime beef and porker pigs up to 1201 b weight. This decision of the Government was at variance with the recommendations of the board, and on March 28 the board held a special meeting and made further strong representations to the Minister. At this interview with the Minister, the board represented the serious position brought about as the result of the restrictions imposed by the Government and stressed the hardship, specially in parts of the country where sheep could not be held, or were eating up winter feed. The danger of forcing ewe lambs into the works was also stressed. The various difficulties which were being encountered by farmers as the result of the restrictions were detailed to the Minister, and a full discussion took place.” Later the Government's proposals in regard to wether and ewe mutton were considered by the board, which made various suggestions by way of .amendment, so as to relieve farmers in both the North Island and the South Island. All these amendments were, however, not adopted when the Minister announced the conditions which would apply in regard to the acceptance of mutton for freezing for export. The board continued its efforts with the Minister, and as a result the Government later relaxed its ruling in respect to ewes in South Otago and Southland. “Ou May 2 the Government announced the completion of the meat contract between the United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments for the 1940-41 season, whereby the'United Kingdom Government agreed to purchase 248.000 tons of meat within the production year ending September 30, 1941,” the report continues. “The position at the time of writing .this report is indicated in a statement issued by the ActingPrime Minister, Mr Nash, on June 27, giving details of the agreement reached between the United Kingdom Government and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand concerning the purchase of exportable surplus products for the war period. The latest estimate is that we will enter the new meat season with 110,000 tons in store and it is expected that a considerable portion of this carry-over will be shipped before the end of the year.”