MEAT DISCUSSIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 139, 25 March 1935, Page 5

MEAT DISCUSSIONS.

ALL EMPIRE'S CONCERN. DOMINIONS TO BE ADVISED. (United Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, March 23. The representative of the "Sydney Sun" learns that the British Government has intimated a desire that a full survey of the forthcoming meat discussions with Australia should be regularly available to the other Dominions because, although the negotiations are primarily between Great Britain and Austria, any agreement must be in the spirit of Ottawa. This also accords with the practice followed in the Anglo-Indian discussions and tho simultaneous mutual consultatioas in connection with all interImperial questions under the 1926 and 1930 Imperial Conference declarations. "•.:•"•' ' Furthermore, in view of the other Dominions being vitally concerned in the meat discussions, it is impossible to conclude an agreement with Australia without the others' co-operation. The New Zealand High Commissioner (Sir James Parr) thus far has not formally conferred with the Australian representatives, but is keeping in close contact with them and also with the British Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Elliot), and is advising bis Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) of the general trend of the discussions. " ' Apparently the other Dominions are anxious that the formidable Australian delegation shall not put them out of the picture. The Prime Minister of Australia (MiLyons) is especially interested in the Smithfield Market annual report, in which Mr Millaman (Superintendent), calculates that for London's population of 8,000,000 the weekly consumption per head of meats is:— .

Beef— British and Irish ... 3.2 Dominions ... ■•• 3.3 Foreign ... ... '} 14.5. Mutton and Lamb— British and Irish ."••• 2.7 Dominions ... ...'... 7,7 Foreign ... ... 1.5 PorkBritish and Irish ... 2.6 Dominions ... ..■. 0.8 Foreign ... -.•■•,. 0.7 The Smithfield report shows that 16,593 tons more Home and Dominion meat was received in 1934 than in 1933. Mr Millaman says that the general effect of quotas has been steadying. Mr Lyons is especially interested in foreign beef imports, which are nearly five times above those from the Dominions, and regards the figures as valuable for the forthcoming discussions.