THE MEAT PROBLEM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 138, 23 March 1935, Page 2

THE MEAT PROBLEM

RECIPROCITY IN TRADE. A NEW BASIS FAVOURED. (Special to the “ Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The opinion that after the expiry of the Ottawa agreements in 1937 it would appear to be the better policy for Great Britain, and fairer all round 1 to the Dominions, for the basis of allowed imports into England to be decided on the reciprocity of trade between the respective Dominions and the Home Country, was expessed by Mr F. Lamer Sugden, of London, in an interview last night. Mi’ Sugden is visiting New Zealand to obtain a more intimate knowledge of the primary productions of this country. While ho has been here he has had interviews* with the Prime Minister (the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes), the Minister for Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) and members of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. Mr Sugden is a member of the London council of the British Empire Producers’ Organisation, a body formed 20 years ago to safeguard the interests of producers in the Empire. When he was asked to comment on the quota negotiations, Mr Sugden said he could not speak for New Zealand, but he had an intimate knowledge of Australian conditions.

A Fact Ovierlooked. “I think,” said Mr Sugden, “that it is often overlooked that the Argentine and Denmark, for instance, have been infinitelv more restricted in the amount of their average imports into Great Britain, than have Australia or New Zealand, so much so that deputations from these countries have returned home dissatisfied with what they have been able to arrange, believing that the British -overseas producers have been unduly favoured. “By the Ottawa Agreement the equality of exports to Great Britain between the- different sections of the exporting British dominions was agreed on. After the expiry of the agreement in 1937 it would appear to be better policy for Great Britain, and fairer all round, for the dominions if the basis of allowed imports to the United .Kingdom should be based on the reciprocity of trade between the respective dominions and 'the Old Country. “It appeared manifestly unfair that New Zealand should not be more favourably treated in this respect than Australia, because New Zealand reciprocates in her purchases from the Old Country and restricts her tariffs against the Old Country more than Australia has done. As for instance, Australia imports motor-cars from the United States, and America reciprocates approximately under conditions which mean that for every £SO Australia spends with her she recipiocates to the extent of £2 That is unreasonable, and it is equally unreasonable for Australia to expect the least levies at the hands of Great Britain while she is buying so largely and without any adequate return in trade from the United States.”

British Government’s First Duty. “I think that frequently the overseas agriculturists and graziers oveilooli the fact that naturally the first duty of the British Government is to safeguard the interests of the British agriculturist and grazier, _ancl the British industrialist,” he said. ' But after that I. know from experience that the British Government has the interests of the overseas Dominions and colonies uppermost in its mind, and it uniformly puts such interests m the forefront of its policy. “It is because ot the disastrous state of bankruptcy of many British industrialists and graziers that the Government has been forced to institute some system, either quotas or levies, to raise prices in Great Britain, not to a punishing extent from the point of view of the consumer,, but /to suohi an) extent m favour of the British agriculturist and grazier as to enable him to make at any rate a moderate living. ‘This I frequently pointed out in Australia,” Mr Sugden said, “and I have tried to convince the Australians that it is unfair on their _ part to complain of reasonable restrictions on their exports for the rear sons I have given, especially bearing in mind that they themselves will participate in the advanced prices that it has been the aim of Mr Elliot (the Minister for Agriculture) to obtain in Great Britain for the British producers.” NEGOTIATIONS IN .LONDON. THE DOMINION DELEGATION. WELLINGTON, March 22. At a meeting of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board during a discussion of the coming long term negotiations in London relating to meat imports, the Board unanimously passed the following resolution: —• “That this Board is very strongly of opinion that the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, and the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, should represent New Zealand in the forthcoming long term discussions with the British Government in London. The Board is very concerned as to the great importance and farreaching possibilities of the coming.discussions. It is firmly of opinion that Mr Coates, with his experience of the Ottawa discussions, would greatly strengthen the delegation, and the Board considers it of the utmost importance to ensure that this Dominion should send the strongest possible delegation to London.”

EXPRESSION OF POLICY WANTED FARMERS’ REQUEST TO BOARD. INVERCARGILL, March 22. A resolution that the executive had not sufficient information to justify its expression of opinion whether quotas or levies or both should be ap-

plied to meat exports, and that it ask the Meat Board for information, was carried to-day by tike Southland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. “I consider that the Farmers’ Union should stand solidly against both quotas and levies,” declared Mr B. Clearwater.

Mr W. Couser contended that it was time New Zealand made a stand. New Zealanders were too easy going. Australians would not stand it. Canada and the Argentine had got a better bargain than we had. The president (Mr W. J. A. McGregor) : I think tilings will come out all right, and we may trust those who are in charge. The exchange may be hitting us back a bit now, but if it had not been for it we might have been in queer street.

COW AND BONED BEEF. SHIPMENT RECOMMENDED. WELLINGTON, March 22. At a meeting of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board to-day it was decided, after consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, to recommend that permission be granted for the export of certain classes o£ cow and boned beef to the United Kingdom. The Board’s detailed recommendations will be announced by the Minister of Agriculture shortly!.