P.M. cool to beef quota

Press, 31 October 1977, Page 1

P.M. cool to beef quota

PA Wellington An increase in Japan’s beef quota for the second half of the current financial year has not excited the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon).

Japan has told Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and other countries that its quota for the six months would be 50,000 tonnes, 10,000 tonnes more than for the first half of the year. Mr Muldoon said that that decision might be connected with the recent talks in Japan by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys) and New Zealand’s insistence on a better deal for its exports, tied to the threat that Japan might be cut out of the extended fishing zone. However, the increased quota would not be of much use to New Zealand.

Japan announced its quotas too late. They should be announced at the beginning of each year, as New Zealand did with its import-licensing system.

“We are getting the quota for the second half of 1977 and it is the end of October,” said Mr Muldoon. “That of course, is what the trouble has been. “The quotas are announced very late and with no warning. What we want are annual quotas, announced early. “We cannot trade on this hit-and-miss basis.” As it was, Australia took the bulk of the beef quota. New Zealand’s share was about 4 per cent. Although sceptical, Mr Muldoon felt it was a move in the right direction. “Our officials will have to analyse it.” Japan’s Minister of Agriculture (Mr Suzuki) said on Saturday it was necessary for Japan to cooperate as much as it could in meeting strong demands for larger beef quotas from exporting nations.

Mr Taiboys had called for a minimum quota of 50,000 tonnes when he met Mr Suzuki in Tokyo recently.