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to the Meat Industry Stabilization Account.* The Government all through the negotiations made it plain that acceptance of the new price schedule was conditional on acceptance of this essential policy decision. I recognize that it was on this basis that the Board agreed to the proposals as a whole. It is considered desirable that both the Meat Pool Account and the Meat Industry Stabilization Account should remain within the Meat Industry Account as at present, but the whole of the proceeds from the recent increase in the prices of meat to be paid by the United Kingdom Government will bo credited to the Meat Industry Stabilization Account and will be conserved exclusively for the industry, subject of course to such debits against the account as are contemplated in the Government's agreement with the Farmers' Federation on the 18th June, 1943. All accretions to the Meat Pool Account will continue as in the past and no charges other than those already operative will be made against it except in agreement with the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board. This arrangement would have to be subject to review, in the event of tho resources of the Meat Industry Stabilization Account being insufficient to meet charges against that account. I would stress again that the balances finally remaining in tho Meat Pool Account and the Meat Industry Stabilization Account belong to and shall bo held for the benefit of the industry. Full information as to the debits it is proposed should be placed against the Dairy and Meat Industry Stabilization Accounts, and also as to the purpose for which lump sum payments have been granted by the United Kingdom, will be made available to tho Joint Committee set up to consider the allocation of debits to the various stabilization accounts. The settlement which has been reached is, I believe, to the benefit of the meat, industry and of tho country as a whole, having regard to the stabilization policy of the Government, and to the best interests of the industry now and in the future. The good will shown by your Board, in the course of negotiations encourages me to ask for its continued co-operation in the important task of securing the greatest possible production of meat for export to Great Britain. I'. Fbakuu, Prime Minister. *Tn a subsequent letter dated I It.h December, 1944, the llight Hon. the Prime Minister informed the. Meat Board as follows : "I note that your lioard has conllnned the statements of the terms of the agreement set out in my letter, with the reservation thai, the annual charge on the Meat Industry Stabilization Account in respect of the subsidy to maintain local meat prices was not to exceed £400,000. I have to advise you that my Government accepts your Board's interpretation of this part of the agreement, and that, therefore, the annual liability of the Meat Industry Stabilization Account in respect of the subsidy to maintain local meat prices is limited to £400,000." (2) Purchase-prices fay able to Freezing Companies and Meat-exporters for the 1944-45 Season.—• The following notification was issued by the Marketing Department on 21st November, 1944 : — Circular No. F.C. 102. Meat Prices Tho complete range of f.o.b. prices for export meat payable by the Marketing Department for tho Season 1944/45 is as follows :—• F. 0.8. Price : Peneo Lamb— per Pound, N.Z. Currency Primo Down Cross 2's (23/30 lb.) toloscopod .. .. .. .. .. 8-425 B's (37/42 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 8-425 4's (43/50 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 7-925 Tegs (51/56 lb.) „ .. .. .. ~ .. 7-425 Prime Canterbury 2's (23/30 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 8-3025 B's (37/421b.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 8-3025 4's (43/50 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 7-8625 Tegs (51/50 lb.) „ . . .. .. .. .. 7-3025 Prime Crossbred 2's (23/36 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 8 • 175 B's (37/42 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 8-175 4's (43/50 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 7-675 Tegs (51/56 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. ~7-175 Second quality (36 and under) „ .. .. .. .. .. 7-675 (37/42 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 7-075 (43/50 lb.) „ .. .. .. .. .. 0-925 (51/50 lb.) „ (as 2nd quality wethers 56/U) .. 5-25 Telescoping allowance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-0777 Mutton— Prime wether and maiden ewe I's (48 and undor) telescoped .. .. .. 5-75 7's (49/56 lb.) „ .. .. ..5-75 3's (57/64 lb.) „ .. .. ..5-75 9's (65/72 lb.) „ .. .. .. s's (73/80 lb.) „ .. .. .. )■ 5-75 on 641b. only. o's (81/90 lb.) „ .. .. ..J Second quality .. .. (50 and under) telescoped .. .. .. 5-25 (57/04 lb.) „ .. .. ..5-25 (65/72 lb.) ~ .. .. 5-25 on 64 lb. only. Ewes .. .. .. (64 and under) „ .. .. ..3-75 (65/72 lb.) „ .. .. .. 3-75 on 641b. only. (81/90 lb')/ b°ned for export .. .. .. 4-075 Telescoping allowanco .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-0777 In tho caso of prime wethers 05/90, second wethers 05/72, and ewes 05/72, the Marketing Dopartmont will pay freezing charges on tho excess weight over 04 lb. Boef — American pack— G.A.Q. ox and heifer .. .. .. ~ .. .. .. 0-5125 F.A.Q. ox and heifer .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5-95 G.A.Q. cow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5-73125 F.A.Q. cow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4-94125 It is expected that all G.A.Q. and F.A.Q. ox, heifer, and oow beef will bo packed according to the United States Joint Purchasing Board specification during the 1944-45 season, but if for 'some particular reason any beef is put up in bone-in quarters, tho following prices will apply:— Bone-in— G.A.Q. ox and hoifor, all weights— Hinds .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6•095 Fores .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-845 F.A.Q. ox and hoifer, all weights— Hinds .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4-9075 Fores .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-7825 G.A.Q. cow, all weights— Hinds .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 • 0575 Fores .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-6575 F.A.Q. cow, all weights— Hinds .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4■0575 Fores .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-0575 Boneless bull .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..4-25 Boneless bobby veal .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4■ 5 Boneless cow and ox beef—South. Island only .. .. .. .. .. 4-05 The on-trucks prices applicable to the North Island works have beon advisod by the secretary of the North Island Beef Canners' Equalization Pool. This class of beef is to bo boned out for canning during tho current season. Ribs and loins are not to bo saved for the United States Joint Purchasing Board,

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