THE MEAT SITUATION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 19 September 1934, Page 9

THE MEAT SITUATION

cables not for publication HOME GOVERNMENT’S REFUSAL COMMENT IN THE HOUSE: (By xeiegrapa —free* Araoctatiou.; WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. An announcement that the British Government was unable to agree to the request of the New Zealand Government to release for publication cablegrams which recently passed between the two countries in connection with the meat situation was made by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. IV. Forbes, in the House of Representatives yesterday. In these circuni-' stances the Government does not intend to press for their release. Mr Forbes said the Government had been engaged in discussions with the Home Government, both by interchange of cablegrams and through the personal attendance of the High Commissioner in London, Sir James Pari’. Close and constant touch had been maintained with the Meat Producers Board, and to the extent that dairyfarmers were directly interested, the Government had arranged consultation between the two boards. MANY SIDED PROBLEM.

It bad been the Government’s desire. at the earliest possible date, to facilitate a full discussion of this many sided problem in Parliament. To this end the British Government had been &ik<d to concur in the release of telegrams. However, the reply stated that, for reasons which had been indicated to the Government, but which need not be discussed, it did not desire publication of the telegrams. Under the circumstances the Government had replied—and it had no doubt that Parliament and the country would concur in the reply—that it did not wish to press for jiublication 0 f the confidential telegrams at the present time. It was mentioned by Mr Forbes that further discussions on the meat question would take place in London about the middle of October between representatives of the United Kingdom Government and the High Commissioners of the various Dominions. In order that the fullest technical and statistical information on the subject might be made available to Sir James Parr, thus ensuring New Zealand’s position being adequately presented to the Home authorities in these discussions, Mr D. Jones, chairman of the Meat Producers’ Board, was proceeding to England, and would, with Mr R. S. Forsyth, the board’s London manager, be associated with the High Commissioner. ......

VISIT TO ENGLAND. A Labour member: At the States expense Mr Forbes: The Meat Board is paying his expenses. Mr W. J. Poison (Govt., Stratford) : Is the House to have an opportunity to discuss this matter? Mr Forbes: That can be arranged. Mr Poison: In the meantime Mr Jones has apparently gone Home to negotiate. Mr Forbes: He has gone Home as the representative of the Meat Board to supply information for use at the conference. I think the House will agree he is well equipped to do that. A member: No. Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central): Another trip. Mr Forbes: The discussions are of such importance to the meat producers of New Zealand that it will be an advantage to have in London the chairman of the board, who is fully in touch with the position and will advise the High Commissioner.