BEEF AND PREFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 82, 6 April 1923, Page 6

BEEF AND PREFERENCE

Mr. Bruce, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, expressed his disappointment, at the New South Wales Chambers of Commerce Conference yesterday, with the results of the preference accorded by Great Britain to Australian products. He showed how, during 1920-21, Australia had given preference to Britain, which he estimated to amount to £8,750,000, in return for a preference given to imports from the Commonwealth of but £45,000. Then he complained that London shops were stocked with meat from the Argentine, while " Australia is unable to get v. footing in the market." It' is' well known to all in the frozen-

meat trade that beef from Australia and New Zealand is realising in the English market much below a fair return to producers. The Commonwealth Government has had*to assist graziers in the matter of the export of beef. It is still the weak spot in the frozen-meat export trade of Australia and New Zealand; but from both countries last yeair there was taken by Great Britain 33.86 per cent, of the total 61.58 per cent, of all frozen meat imported. Apart from any difference there may be in favour of Argentine beef^in quality, the fact remains that the chilled beef from South America naturally commands a premium over frozen from Australia and New Zealand, and the home-grown British meat commands a still higher price. Even so, during 1922 Australian lamb realised \d per Ib more than Argentine, and New Zealand sold at lsd per 1b more; but Argentine chilled beef made as much as 2d per 1b more than either Australian or New Zealand. Until the quality of beef from these countries is brought up to the same level as that from their South American competitiors, and sent Home chilled, there will always be a wide margin between them in price, to say nothing of the favourable geographical position of , Argentina and South America generally. New Zealand mutton, however, brought |d per lb more than Argentine last year, and lfd more than Australian. Preference, if given, will not make much difference in favour of Australia if the quality is not in the meat. Besides, Mr. Bonar Law recently made it quite plain that anything that might make food dearer in Great Britain cannot for the present be entertained.