The Dominion TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1932. THE MEAT QUESTION AT OTTAWA

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 275, 16 August 1932, Page 8

The Dominion TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1932. THE MEAT QUESTION AT OTTAWA

Military metaphors have lately besprinkled Ottawa reports of the efforts made by Australia and New Zealand to reach an agreem with Great Britain as to the preferences or quotas to b^ a PP h bj the latter to her imports of meat. The use of such phrases as meat war ” “titanic struggle” and “battles” is unedifymg and the unfortunate impression is deepened by calling the .Sabbath rest an ari ?»stice. Probably the facts do not justify these warlike descriptions, which may be heavily discounted, if not completely written o t• What does appear certain is that Mr. Bruce and Mr. Coates ait Dressing hard for restrictions on British imports of foreign meat. On ' the reports, which should be accepted guardedly, they are displaying almost an excess of zeal. So far their importunity does not seem to have moved Britain to concede the quota principle. Apparently she is prepared to grant tariff preferences but not to set limits to foreigti supplies. She is loath to take'the second step and her motives are both political and economic. It is open to serious question whethei it would be a good thing if she were persuaded against her considered judgmei arid Bruce and Mr. Coates are convinced that tariff preferences in themselves would avail the Dominions little, it anything. They argue that the real trouble is the over-supply, on the British market. Therefore they ask Britain to place limits on imports of foreign meat. But which countries are responsible for the oversupply? In the case of mutton and lamb, for instance, Australia in the last three or four years has far more than doubled her exports o . Britain; New Zealand, exports have increased by 30 per cent.; t Argentina’s have remained practically stationary. . In this particular case the Dominions appear to be feady to penalise Argentina tor a condition for which they themselves are mainly responsible. A great deal-depends, of course, on what Australia and JNew Zealand are offering for valuable marketing privileges. So far nothing definite has been heard on that score. Even if their offer represents a fair quid pro quo, they are still asking that it be accepted before Britain hears what Argentina; Denmark and the rest are prepared to do. that is one of the troubles with import restrictions. They are exclusive., In her special position as a world trader Britain is unwilling to bind herself by exclusive agreements. Her,aim is freer, mutual, world trade. New Zealand has declared for the same policy but her aims at Ottawa are at variance with her declaration. Again it should be noted that Australia, and New Zealand want a free and unlimited market for their meat in Britain. They expect to be placed on the same competitive footing as the Home producer. It should not be forgotten that he has suffered with other suppliers by current over-production. For a time he may gain with the Dominions through restrictions on foreign imports but before long he may seekprotection in his Home market. ■ Writing in The Nineteenth Century Mr. Cltistopher Turner says, “We should primarily consider the interests of our Home producers; and the Dominion representatives should realise that control of volume would have to be applied to produce from the Dominions.” . . Indeed, one of the results of the Ottawa Conference is that Britain has become conscious of the importance of her own farm industry. In, the House of . Commons only two months ago the Secretary for the Dominions (Mr. Thomas) expressed astonishment.at the amount of capital sunk in British agriculture and its huge turnover. He added that probably many members were as surprised as he was to see the figures showing there was greater wealth, in British agriculture than in the agriculture of any of the Dominions. There are other considerations Britain.must bear in mind. One of the chief in the case of meat is her special position in Argentina. It is not merely a matter of export trade but of her position as the investor of £6OO millions and as carrier, banker, insurer and meat packer for the Argentine. Here, then, are a few of the reasons causing * Britain to hold out against Australian and New Zealand pressure and it is right that we should endeavour to see our proposition from her standpoint. ‘