EXPORT OF MEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 69, 19 September 1932, Page 7

EXPORT OF MEAT

OTTAWA DECISION

POSITION STILL OBSCURE

EEFEEENCE BY ME.

COATES

Of the major decisions reached at the Ottawa Conference none has produced the uncertainty -which, followed forecasts, of the terms of the New Zealand agreement with Great Britain r-egard- * ing the export of frozen meat. Although a statement on the issue l was made by the Bight Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the New Zealand delegation, ..on his return to "Wellington yesterday, the position is still somewhat obscure, and will probably remain so until Tuesday night/ when the Minister proposes to make public the key letter, addressed to Mr. Stanley Baldwin, 'forming the basis of the arrangement. Whether or not New' Zealand had agreed £o a quantitative restriction of her .exports, of frozen muttan, beef, and lamb is the question whieb. has been exercising the minds of producers. and exporters. The cabled summary of the Conference results indicated that Australia, had agreed to limit the export of frozen mutton and lamb to the United Kingdom for the year 1933 to an amount equivalent to the total imports from Australia during the year ended 30th June last, amd added that ~ the New Zealand agreement was identical in terms. While not prepared, to discuss the subject when asked to do so yester- \ day, interests connected with the Aus- \ tralian delegation insisted that, all i reports •to the contrary, New Zea- . land's agreement was in exactly the 'same terms as the Commonwealth.'s. There is no misunderstanding about that, said one authority. It is identical to the letter, and it is only a quibble of words to contend otherwise. Mr. Coates, when asked whether he could clear up the 'point, replied:— \^ lam afraid I cannot help you at ( present. I do jnot propose to add anything to the prepared statement ■ I have made to-day. ME. COATES'S COMMENT. The prepared statement referred to is couched in the fdllbwing terms:— "A different method (from that agreed to regarding dairy products) has been adopted for assisting meat producers of the Empire. The United Kingdom undertakes to regulate the imports, from foreign countries, of all meat, including bacon, beef, mutton, . and lamb. These are to be restricted to an extent that is set out in black and white.in our agreement, and the twofold purpose is to raise prices to- a remunerative level, and increase the Dominion.'s share in the meat market of the, United Kingdom. To-day the Dominions /supply only 24 per cent, of the United Kingdom's meat exports: foreign sources supply _76 per cent. That is a position that can well, be improved. Furthermore, ,the meat markets of the United Kingdom, particularly in the past year or two, have been flooded with imports of bacon and other meats which, had been shut put of the Continental market. This led to the disastrous priqe collapse, and to .the Waste of supplies beyond anything the market could'absorb. In the short run the position was one which no .tariff could correct.', OPPOSED TO TARIFF. "In any case; as'far as meat was concerned, it was made perfectly clear to the Dominions at Ottawa that the British Government could not at the present time contemplate a tariff on meat," the statement continued. "Reports to the contrary, statements to the effect that the Dominions rejected the offer of a tariff and insisted upon the regulation :of quantities of meat imports, while British Ministers opposed this plan, arie utterly false and misS"£ Thl ß- I s I™ of the misunderstandings which have been conveyed to people in New Zealand. Tfce arrangement between New Zealand and Great Britain on the subject of meat is set M"«'£ I?* tw n »M«li I addressed to Mr.Baldwin. This letter, except, for a few sentences which must remain confidential pending certain negotiations with foreogn countries, I shall release at an early date." NO NEED FOB APPREHENSION. p /" no«Sh M*. Coates was no* ed to discuss the subject further he emphasised that as far as «£fw SIS*? 6'6 ~ned there was aotPthe X' B, eed f°r apprehension. What iad been done was in the interests nf New^Zeala'nd, he believed the in terests most intimately concerned would be .entirely satisfied. ■ Prom other sources, however, more aefimtevinformation was forthcoming! It was learnt, for instance, that the agreement reached could not be held to involve the application of the quota system to New Zealand's exports. The agreement was described this way:—. It is neither quota, regulation, -nor limitation of -supplies. Based on the most reliable information,. estimates of New Zealand shipments have been given, and these for the next five years. It was pointed out also that when the proposals were under consideration by ; the Conference New Zealand had asked for not only the quantitative restriction of foreign exports to Great Britain, but as well for the imposition of duties ranging from Jd to 2d per lb No action had been contemplated. or taken subsequently that would have the effect of binding New Zealand to any hard and fast arrangement with Aus-' tralia in the regulation or restriction of exports. VALUE TO AUSTRALIA. 'A direct reference to the Seat agreement was made by the Hon. H. S. Gullett, Commonwealth Minister of Trade and Commerce, in the course of a brief prepared review of the Conference results. Mr. Gullett said:— "The arrangements made in favour of the Dominions' meat will, I believe prove the most valuable of all the concessions to Australia, and can scarcely fail both to improve wholesale price levels m the near future and to give the 6 BS lOmarket.^ reaSing

«i^ r- f "' *owe™r, declined to elaborate the reference, or to discuss ? ♦wlll S,, Of the ailment, pointing out that the question was stil in a confidential stage.