THE MEAT PROPOSALS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1932, Page 13

THE MEAT PROPOSALS

EFFECT IN BRITAIN

DANGEROUS GROUND

United Press Association—By Electric lei*

Sriph-^Copyrislit. (Received 30th. July, 11 a.m.)'

OTTAWA, 29thJuly. A. tentative Tjuf" authoritativo British view regarding- the outcome of the meat proposals states that wkiie the exigencies of 'bargaining may impel Britain to accede to a "small .duty; on meat, there are special considerations apart from the extensive financial- interests_ in the Argentine which make the British leaders reluctant'to remove meat .from the free list.

There is no certainty that a small duty would increase the price of meat to the British housewife, and it is noted that the butter price has actually fallen since the 10 per cent, duty was imposed, and there is no steady drop in. the general market, but everyone hopes that prices of primary produce will shortly have a natural rise, in which case the public would contribute the amount of the duty, however small, in an increased meat price. Britain might decide for the sa,ke of the Dominions that it is worth while to increase the duties on butter, cheese, and eggs fi-Qm the present 10 per cent, to 15. When it conies to-the question of removing wheat and meat from the free list, it. provokes discussion, bocause it affects basic commodities. The slogan which above all others would, excite the British public against the Government would be, "They are taxing breaa and meat." While the British Government' might be able to persuado the public^ tint they have gained sufficient concessions from tho Donu.mpsS to justify such a, duty,, the.

British realise that; within, Sayj two years, there will be.bitter criticism because the natural increase of prices in the interim Wtnild 1)6 blamed dh to the removal of wheat and meat from the free list. BEA&Eft feEfep AN© !*VORBE.; Tlie British consider, it problematical whether the, Dominions would gain an appreeiablS /advantage from a small duty on meat, even if, with marketing conditions continuing as at present, the prices underwent a slight natural increase* The view at present taken is that unless the Australians and South Africans could rapidly make'enormous improvements in the quality 6f their stock, they wottia be asking the British coiißuiner to curtail the consumption/of the high-grade Argentine article to eat a larger quantity of an inferior article. It is logical that the British housewife would Warmly i-esent coercion, to buy inferior bcei at & higher price. Sutili a result^-Which. tho British Government. would hesitate to bring about, knowing that it Would cause an imperilling swing of public 6pinion*-in ah indus'tf lal country like Britain might eventually turn public, sentiment against Imperial preferences as being bought tod deafly. " 6 As far a> the British farmdr kcbivcefneti. he has already suffered greatly through tile fall of lamb aiid mutton prices, but tho. marked discrepancy always prevailing between English frtjsn and intpof ted meat ineiuis that he Would practically be uhaSected ty any sfflall duty imposed on the foreign' y?& duct. The Whole (iruS of the dominions' case, particularly tho Aust«aliaa case, is that a quantitative restriction.would not actually and need not be permitted to raise tho price of beef to tha British consumer. Without ; the quota the Argentine would. bo able to flood the British market at all seasons, even selling below, cost or at least undercutting frozen beef which the Dominions consider should hayo some protection They havo made meat the strongest plank of their Conference programme, realising that if the present conditions' are allowed to continue the great Australian primary industry is in si Hopeless case..;-; •■■••. ■"■■'.-■