EMPIRE TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 21710, 3 May 1934, Page 9

EMPIRE TRADE

THE BRITISH MARKET NEGOTIATIONS WITH DOMINIONS PENDING LONDON, May 2. The •* Daily Express ’ says negotiations are being opened almost immediately between the Dominions Office and official representatives of the Dominions in London concerning the future of Empire trading, particularly with regard to meat imports. The ’* Evening Standard ’ lobbyist says the British Government will urge the dominions to accept some form of restriction to cover the period until the trade pacts with foreign countries expire. The ‘Daily Telegraph’s’ political correspondent says: “ The talk about an Empire conference in London this year has no foundation, but negotiations among the high commissioners are already in progress, arid it is confidently expected that an understanding will be reached.” BRITISH FARMERS’ HANDICAPS LONDON, May 2. The Coriservative Parliamentary Agricultural Committee, in view of the uneconomic trading in Danish and Dutch butter, which it was contended amounted in effect to a bounty on export to Britain to the prejudice of English and dominions’ producers, decided to invito Mr Runciman (President ot the Board of Trade) to discuss the problem with the committee. It also appealed to the 1 Government to aid the live stock industry ■in a similax manner to the wheat bounty, and proposed a subsidy on meat on- the basis of 48s a cwt for cattle and 56s for sheep, which would be raised by a levy of a penny per pound on imported meat, producing £6,500,000 in a normal year. The scheme would in no way operate against the dominions or colonies. ' THE MEAT AGREEMENTS BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE ON TERMINATION. LONDON, May 2. (Received May 3, at 11 a.m;) Although the meat agreements terminate on June 30, the ‘ Sun ’ understands that it is possible that Britain will not immediately enforce further restrictions, preferring to await the consultations, pai'ticularly in view of Mr Bruce’s imminent return. The ‘ Yorkshire Observe!* ’ says that the Government will be asked to grant more subsidies to.-.farmers. The Conservative Parliamentary Committee adopted the report of the Live Stock Sub-committee in favour of subsidies on live stock to farmers. The Government will also be asked specially to consider the disparity between prices ruling for the same butter in Holland and in Britain. New Zealand producers’ figures reveal the existence of a substantial Danish export bounty at the expense of Empire producers!.

EMPIRE SHIPPING COMMON POLICY , TO MEET SUBSIDY EVIL. LONDON, May 2. (Received May 3, at 11 u.m.) In the House of Lords Lord' Mottistohe appealed- for recognition of the urgency of a common Empire policy to meet the shipping position arising from foreign subsidies. He cited, the case of American lines* having captured the New Zealand trade with the help of a subsidy equivalent of £lO for each letter carried. Lord Templemore replied that as soon as the Government had formulated its main lines of policy to aid shipping the dominions would be consulted. NEW ZEALAND'S .INQUIRY QUESTION TO BE RAISED IN COMMONS. LONDON, May 2. (Received May 3, at 2 p.m.) Sir Herbert Samuel will raise the question of New Zealand’s inquiry as to mutually free markets during the debate on the dominion’s vote in the House of Commons on May '7.