N.Z. MEAT

Grey River Argus, 29 May 1935, Page 5

N.Z. MEAT

BRITISH ATTITUDE No Increase of Imports BEEF MUST BE REDUCED. (Supplied and Released by the New Zealand Government) LON'DON, May 27. To the present, the meat discussions have been of a confidential nature. There has been one discussion between the British Ministers and lhe representatives of the Dominion Governments, and various points were deferred to Expert Committees which have made fair progress. !t was recognised by all parties at the outset that some regulation of the market was necessary if satisfactory prices were to be maintained and that a Alcat Council should be set up to investigate the market from time to time, as well as to recommend the quantities of various classes of meat which should be shipped by the supply countries. Air Thomas and Air Elliott both expressed the opinion that the market would not at present carry further supplies of mutton and lamb, and there would have to be come curtailment of beef importations. AVhen asked by Air Forbes, whether the British Government had amended its proposals since the publication of the White Paper, Mr Thomas replied that they had nothing to add, or re-i tract. There is a general feeling, however, that the regulation of lhe market will be inqiossible unless the United Kingdom lakes a share of the responsibility, along with Hie countries of supply. This would mean a modification of the White Paper proposals, which suggested the regulation should be carried out by the supplying countries a lone. The question of ’ levy has not yet been discussed, but the British Government has intimated that the subsidy which is being paid out of the Consolidated Fund, will shortly be withdrawn, and that some other source of revenue must be found, if the subsidy is to be continued. Experts have been engaged in drawing up machinery for the future regulation of the market, and the draft of. constitution and the duties of the Aleat Council has been drawn up. It is suggested that the Council should be purely an advisory body, and that the final decision should rest with the Governments themselves.

N.Z. DEMAND ON MUTTON AND LAMB. THREE TO ONE OVER AUSTRALIA. (Issued bv N.Z. Govt.) LONDON. Alay 27. On lhe recommendation of the British Government, the Australian and New Zealand officials have been meet ing in an endeavour to formulate mutually satisfactory quantities of mutton and lamb exports for sending on to the United Kingdom market. New Zealand has suggested that the Ottawa year should be used as a basis. Tn that year. New Zealand had 72.3 per cent, of shipments from both countries, and Australia 27.7 per cent. The Australians have replie.d that this basis is unfair to her. as she has wide possibilities of production, and is agreeable to taking the 1934 basis in which percentages were 68.6 per cent, and 31.4 per cent. In leply. New Zealand has stated that Australia exported large quantities of low grade mutton and lamb, which would not be tolerated under the New Zealand ■grading system. It has been pointed out that the fact that Australia is receiving over one penny per pound less for the product than New Zealand, is proof of this contention. The Australians admit that something could be done to improve the quality of their export, but still maintain the future production capacity should he taken into consideration. British officials have expressed the opinion that future production would he an unsound basis, and that past performances must Jbe considered There are hopes however, that a mutually satisfactory basis may be arrived at. After the mutton and lamb have been disposed of. the British Government intend to open up the question of beef, and Air Thomas has also hinted that dairy produce will be considered, the general idea being that long agreements should he arrived at if at all possible. One of the difficulties in the way of negotiations has been the pressure of domestic business of British Ministers, ■who have Parliament sitting, and n number of momentous problems under urgent consideration. They are finding it difficult to sandwich in meetings with the Dominion representatives, who are anxious to get ahead with the deliberations. However, a great deal of spadework is being done by informal conferences and discussions among the parties affected.