THE COMMONWEALTH'S INTEREST

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 83, 8 April 1922, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH'S INTEREST

A WELCOME OFFER

CHEAPER PRODUCTION; LOWER COSTS.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIGHT.)

(Received April 8, 8 a.m.)

LONDON, 7th April. In an interview given to the Australian Press Association, Mr. J. A. •Elder said,he was glad to see the-Com-monwealth Government was taking an active interest in the position of the beef trade. He hoped the Government's welcome offer would quickly have effective results, otherwise it would be too late for this season. "The best propaganda the Meat Board can follow," he said, "consists.of cheaper production of cattle, lower freezing costs, cheaper ocean transport, improved quality, and better dressing. Australian beef is in competition with the world, and must stand or fall on its merits. Mere boosting is'of no avail." The Meat Board, he added, should support the endeavour being made in England to get the authorities'to accept the recommendations of the Bridgeman report, which would afford much-need-ed and'the only effective protection to Australian meat imports. The Commonwealth Government should assist in this direction. Argentine chilled beef shipments had been recently reduced. Dqubtless the losses had been too heavy owing to the imports being greatly in excess of normal consumption and being sold below cost. It was possible the price of war in the shape of dumping might recur; in the' meantime the consumption of frozen beef had benefited, and prices were hardening. It was impossible to forecast .the trend of the market, as it was entirely dominated by loreign interests.