CHILLED BEEF,

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 169, 13 April 1935, Page 8

CHILLED BEEF,

Scope For Dominion Exports LONDON DISCUSSIONS Increase in Quarterly Allocation A statement on tlie meat question as affecting New Zealand was made by tlie Acting-Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, yesterday to a representative of "Tlie Dominion.” "We are in daily contact with the High Commissioner, Sir James Parr, and the United Kingdom Government in the moat discussions which are now proceeding in London,” said Mr. Coates, "and while it is difficult to negotiate by cable, the proceedings up to date can bo considered as favourable. For example, for the April-June quarter the New Zealand Government have arranged that the export of chilled beef to the United Kingdom is to lie nearly doubled. “The export of chilled beef from New Zealand is as yet only in the experimental stages, but a definite future is indicated. We had secured an allocation of 30,000 cwt. of chilled beef for arrival in the April-June quarter. The allocation has now been increased to 50,000 cwt., an indication that the United Kingdom Government recognise the importance that the chilled beef trade will be to New Zealand. “The Argentine is the main supplier of chilled beef, which brings up to 2d. per lb. more than frozen beef. Hitherto, our distance from the market had prevented the development of a chilled beef export trade from New Zealand, but advancement due to scientific experiment has now made it commercially possible. Hence the increased allocation of chilled beef should be welcome news to the beef producer.” The Case For New Zealand. It may be mentioned, that few Ministers from New Zealand who have visited London on national business have been so well equipped to present a case to the Imperial Government as the Minister of Finance. During the past week Mr? Coates, in association with executive officers of the State departments and representatives of the primary industries, lias been working at high pressure, and when he leaves Auckland to-day, he will carry with him one of the most comprehensive files dealing with Dominion problems that has ever left New Zealand. Mr. Coates lias not concentrated solely on the meat problem—itself one of tremendous difficulty—■ but has gathered data dealing with many other pressing problems, including that of Empire defence. Australia Alert. Some indication of the importance of export meat to New Zealand and the need for. this country to be represented at the forthcoming discussions in Loudon is shown in facts concerning the Australian delegation. ''' New Zealand exports nearly twice as much meat to the United Kingdom as does Australia; in addition 25 per cent, of our total exports consists of meat, while with Australia meat represents 5 per cent, of the exports. The population of Australia is four times that of New Zealand. Finally, New Zealand has the greatest amount of exports per head in the world. Press reports from London state that the Australian delegation will be as large as all the other delegations combined. The Australian press give the number in their delegation as forty. This shows tlie importance of the meat problem to Australia. Their delegation comprises the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) ; Mr. Thorby, a Country Party Minister; Sir Henry Gullett, Minister in Charge.of Trade Treaties; Mr. E. F. Sunners, chairman of the Queensland Meat Board, to represent the meat industry as a consultant: the chairman of the Tariff Board (Mr. H. McConaghy) ; Mr. A. C. Moore, chief tariff officer; Mr. E. . McCarthy, assistant secretary of the Department of Commerce: and Mr. Irvine Douglas, Commonwealth publicity officer. In addition, the Attorney-General (Mr. Menzies) and tlie Parliamentary Secretary of Re-employment (Mr. Stewart), will be in England on private visits, and will join the delegation whenever necessary.