ARGENTINE MEAT GOING TO CONTINENT

Grey River Argus, 18 December 1948, Page 5

ARGENTINE MEAT GOING TO CONTINENT

British Hopes of Forcing Supply LONDON, December 14. The failure of Senor Miguel Miranda, chairman of the Argentine National Economic Council, to make an announced visit to London is believed to be connected with domestic and not with political reluctance to negotiate with Britain on meat. Argentine meat is now going to the Continent as it is there fetching better prices than Britain will pay. Senor Miranda’s economic policies says a New Zealand Pre.ss Association correspondent, are under fire from other financial experts in the Government of Argentina, and it seems likely that he is remaining in Buenos Aires to defend them. In London the Nmported Meat Trade Association has stated that the threat to Britain’s meat supplies is “the inevitable outcome of continuing to flog the dead horse of bulkbuying.” The association issued a statement in which it also said: “Ever since the war the association has advocated and pressed the importance of a return to normal means in the procurement of meat. Trade in traders’ hands is the only means of providing adequate supplies, with whatever safeguards are necessary to avoid this sort of thing during difficult circumstances.” The Associated Fress said: “Britain has a strong bargaining card in oil which will help to force Argentina into a quick agreement on a new British-Argentine meat contract, according to impartial observers in Buenos Aires." They do not share the pessimism expressed in some quarters in London over the outcome of the meat negotiations. “Argentina needs oil badly. She must import 40 per cent, of her needs to keep her road and most of her rail transport going. But she is short of dollars to buy oil in her usual markets and the Government has already announced 'that it expects a complete barter deal with the British Empire for oil. Negotiations are said to be now in progress with the Shell group.”