MEAT IMPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 5

MEAT IMPORTS.

BRITISH POLICY.

CONFERENCE THIS MONTH.

IS LEVY INEVITABLE ?

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, thfs day. The application of the quota to and the imposition of a levy on Dominion imports of meat to the United Kingdom is a problem that has only temporarily receded into the bacKground. It will regain its prominence later this month with the opening of negotiations between representatives of the Dominions and the British Government. The approaching conference is important, because the British Government desires not only to complete its import arrangements for the current year, but to prepare the way for a permanent policy for future years. New Zealand will be represented by the High Commissioner, Sir James Parr, who will have associated ivith him as advisers, representing the viewpoint of the producer*, Mr. David Jones, chairman of the Meat Board, and Mr, 11. S. Forsyth, the board's London manager. New Zealand's meat exports are proceeding for the present under the arrangement indicated by the Imperial authorities some months ago, that exports should be based upon the totals of the "Ottawa year," plus 5 per cent for the current six months. This is the proportion operating, but if the exPorts for the remainder of the year i.e., for the six months from January next, are to be limited on the same basis, serious difficulties will face the meat Producers and also those dairy farmers interested in pork. It is hoped that there will be some modification which w ill enable the enormous increase in pork production, due partly to its development as a dairying "sideline," to he absorbed, without prejudicing other lines of meat, such as mutton and lamb.

I The British subsidy on home-killed beef is a temporary measure, expiring on March 31 next, and it will be the task of the coming conference to agree, if it can, upon a more permanent arrangement. New Zealand official opinion is definitely against any restriction of imports into Britain of meat from Empire sources, but the British Government is quite insistent on placing the home producer in a better position, either by restricting competitive supplies or oy directly assisting the home producer of beef by means or a subsidy on his output, which would, in its turn, be under official control. If the conference fails to agree upon the restriction of imports, which might be taken for granted in view of the Aus. tralian and New Zealand opinion, it is believed here that the Imperial authorities will fall back on the levy principle. The amount of the proposed levy is penny per lb on all imported meat from foreign sources, and a halfpenny per lb on all meat from Empire countries. The home production of beef which would receive the subsidy is nearly 530,000 tons annually, while beef imports into Britain from Australia and New Zealand amount to 03,000 tons, and from foreign sources 474,000 tons. However, the levy would not be confined to imported beef, but would also apply to 2-">2,000 tons of lamb and mutton which come annually from New Zealand and Australia, as well as / 9,700 tons fiom South America. Close communication by cable between the Government and its representatives abroad will be maintained throughout the consultations, the outcome of which will be awaited with more than ordinary anxiety by the Dominion authorities.