HEAVY LAMBS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 September 1941, Page 5

HEAVY LAMBS

QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT PURCHASE. MR POLSON DISSATISFIED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Dissatisfaction with a reply given by the Minister of Marketing; Mr Barclay, to a question about the weight of lambs to be accepted for export was expressed by Mr Polson (Opposition,, Stratford) in interjections in the House of Representatives yesterday. He had asked whether it was the intention of the Government again to refuse to purchase 401 b and over lamb and two-tooth wethers for export “this season” on behalf of the Imperial Government, and, if so, whether an early announcement would be made. He also asked whether the Minister would explain in whose interest the discrimination was made, as a 451 b lamb carried more than twice the edible meat of a 271 b lamb, which was accepted for export, and occupied only 15 per cent more space. The Minister said the Government had at no time refused to purchase lambs of 401 b and over. Insofar as purchases were made by the Government on behalf of the United Kingdom Government, no alteration to the weight classifications had been made throughout the season. “The works are definitely refusing to take them,” Mr Polson interjected. “They refused throughout last season.” The Minister: “The Government has at no time refused to take them.” Mr Polson: “You are not taking them. You discussed the very question with me at the Primary Production Council.” Surely the question, he added, meant that the decision was for the coming season.

The Minister: “It is not clear.” "That is just a quibble,” rejoined Mr Polson.