MEAT AGREEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1936, Page 5

MEAT AGREEMENT

MINISTER’S REPLY

TO HON. COATES’ STATEMENT i

(Per Press Association-—Copyright).

WELLINGTON, October 14.

The Hon. Lee Martin, Minister of Marketing, to-day issued tlie following reply to the statement in reference to meat exports to Britain by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates: — “It is unfortunate that Mr Coates did not choose a more fitting time and a more fitting phrasing for his statement on the important subject of marketing,” said Mr Martin. “What practically amounts to suggestions of possible deliberate misrepresentation i and bad faith, on the part of Air Nash, the Minister of Finance, would have come with a, better grace if they had been made before the Minister had left the Dominion, and while he was still on the spot to refute personally the foolish insinuations for which Mr Coates has made himself personally responsible.

“The spirit of peevish pettiness which pervades Air Coates’ statement, and the unworthy suspicions he endeavours to arouse, are particularly to be deplored, and do an injustice to himself at least as much as to Air Nash. As a matter, of fact, bis remarks as reported, are.yery wide of the mark, and only indicate that lie is ly out of touch with the meat, agre&h ments with Britain. The opinion' of Air Coates that an agreement has already been reached, and merely awaits the signature of Mr Nash, is quite incorrect.

“It is perfectly true that a longterm agreement has been suggested by the British Government for our approval, but certain of the principles involved are not acceptable to New Zealand, and further consideration of these important proposals has been deferred by the British Government pending the arrival of Mr Nash in Britain,

“Just to show that the suggestion of a cut-and-dried agreement is contrary to fact, it may be pointed out that, for mutton and,.lamb, New, Zealand’s, most important meat export, no discussions of any kind haye as yet taken place with regard to the programme of mutton and lamb landings after the end of the present agreement, which expires o n,. 3 of this year. Mr Coates should be well aware of this, ‘as,.he, himself was concerned in the negotiation of this agreement. “At the end of September this year, the British Government suggested an early 5 discussion on 1 New Zealand and Australian lamb and mutton quotas for 1937. and this, naturally, will be one of tlie first matters to engage the attention of Air Nash. Air Coates also indicates that, from a statement made by Air Walter Elliot,- in the House of Commons; on July 6, “it is clear that discussions this year have brought to finality proposals advanced in negotiations in London last year.” While it is true that the statement referred to does indicate, in broad outline, the British Government’s permanent proposals for safeguarding the British live-stock industry, it is not correct to sav that proposals /. have reached finality. In Air Elliott’s statement, it was set out that further proposals as to market regulation, which mainly affected exporting countries, are under discussion with the Governments of the countries concerned.

It is these important proposals as far they affect New Zealand, and including the establishment and functions of an Empire Meat Council, which will form the basis of discussions before any definite agreement is reached.” “ ‘ .

“CAP FITS,” SAYS MR. COATES

REPLY TO MR LEE MARTIN. *

WELLINGTON, October 14

“It seems to me to be a case of the cap fitting,” said the Rt. Hon J. CL Coates when commenting in an interview to-day on the reply made by the Acting-Minister for Marketing (the Hon TV. Lee Martin to his comments published this morning about meat exports to Great Britain.

“Let me say that nothing in my remarks can be construed as indicating any personal animus of peevish pettiness,” Mr Coates continued. “The Australians, to all intents and purposes, have concluded their ageement as a result of negotiations in London this year. New Zealand was represented at those negotiations, and the basis of supply for Australia would have to be fixed with due regard to the imports to be permitted from New Zealand. That must mean that our own basis of supply is virtually fixed.

“There is also the important question of the proposed levy on meat import into the United Kingdom. That has certainly been settled. I have stated the two alternatives—either that the Minister is hoping to announce the agreement from London as his own, or else that he hopes to use the draft agreement as a bargaining point in his reciprocal trade negotiations. The second alternative is actually 7 much more serious than the first. If meat exports from the Dominion are to he dragged into discussions on quota-swapping, our present basis of trade—that of an established supply with an expanding share of the United Kingdom market — may easily he upset. Serious consequences would inevitably follow.

“My only motive in commenting the position was to put forward the

facts as I see them for the benefit of the Dominion producer. I have endeavored to serve the producers of New Zealand in the past, and I shall endeavour to continue to serve them in the future. The statement made by Mr Lee Martin consists of a string of admissions which disproves his contention that my remarks are very wide of the mark. If I remember correctly, Mr Lee Martin himself stated in the Waikato some months ago that a meat agreement had been made. He may find it difficult to reconcile that statement with the one which he has issued to-day.”