HOOD PROGRESS IN MEAT PARLEYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 148, 25 June 1935, Page 7

HOOD PROGRESS IN MEAT PARLEYS.

LONDON MEETINGS.

Pressure on Argentina to Modify Attitude.

BRITISH IMPORT CONTROL,

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Juno 24,

The meat discussions between British and Australian representatives were continued to-day. Good progress is reported.

A meeting of the completo Imperial assembly will be held this afternoon. Meantime, Mr. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, again consulted the Argentine representatives. The Dominions are still awaiting Mr. Eunciman's report, without which it is impossible for Britain to submit practical propositions.

It sterns certain that the Argentine will continue her strong opposition jto a penny per lb margin between the levies on Dominion and foreign supplies.

Britain to-day \ offered concessions regarding the Meat Council to be formed in London to control the supply situation. Australia and New Zealand both pressed that it must be a purely Empire council feeling, and that if it included foreign meat interests Dominion representation would be swamped. Britain now seems inclined to concede this point.

The "Daily Telegraph," in a leading article, refers to the speech made at Leicester by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Walter Elliot. It states that Mr. Elliot's reference,to low tariffs indicates that the meat agreement will embody regulation of the market instead of a high tariff.

This, says the article, will give Australia and New Zealand an assured market, which will expand with returning prosperity. Thus, the result will he almost as valuable to them as an unfettered entry to the market.

"The Times," in a leadinT article, s>\ys the delegates to the meat conference have realised that an unregulated market would be contrary to the interests of all concerned. Therefore, if a tariff is adopted, power to regulate supplies must be reserved.

The parties, adds "The Times," are nearest to an agreement regarding mutton and lamb, concerning 'which regulation, which hitherto has worked well, is likely to be the basis of the longterm policy.

"If Britain is going to use the tariff it must be low rather than high, in order to keep'the prices of food down," said Mr. Elliot, in his Leicester speech. "Moreover, the proceeds must be applied to develop agriculture. The Wheat Act principle now is being applied to the meat negotiations. We say the overseas people, who are sharing the advantages, must assist us to regulate the market, because if they fight our attempts to regulate supply the scheme will be unworkable."