Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, JAN, 19, 1935. MEAT QUOTAS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 44, 19 January 1935, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, JAN, 19, 1935. MEAT QUOTAS.

With the acceptance by Britain of the offer made by Australia regarding- quantities of meat to be exported during the current quarter of the year the subject of short-term restrictions lias been overcome and attention will now be directed to the major problem of arranging a long-term policy, negotiations for which are expected to be resumed next week, though there is the possibility of delay since Mr Lyons, the Federal Premier, who has adopted a strong attitude for Australia in the short-term quota discussions and promises to repeat it in the bigger subject, is proceeding to London and has hinted at delaying a decision or reopening the subject when he gets there, which would seem to indicate that finality may not be reached until his arrival. Meanwhile the New Zealand representatives, the High Commissioner (Sir James Parr) and Mr D. Jones, chairman of the Meat Producers’ Board, are chafing at the delay in evolving a long-term policy, pointing out that the killing season in New- Zealand is u-ell on the way and that the producers naturally expect to see some concrete programme worked out for the next exportingseason before the present one is finished. In accepting Australia’s proposals for the fixation of the quantities of veal, beef, mutton and lamb that may be exported from Australia to Britain up to the end of March next, the British Government has stretched a notable point; the concession represents a total advance of 3000cv-t. of meat on the average amount shipped from Australia to the United Kingdom in the corresponding quarters of the three previous years, and to that extent the figures are in excess of Britain’s proposed regulations. At the moment New Zealand suffers but little—the principal effect of the regulation for the current three months is to curb exports of porker pigs. What is now paramount is agreement on the long-term policy. To get _ a proper understanding of the British view-point it is w-ell to remember the declaration of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Elliot) that his purpose is to raise prices to a profitable level for the Home producer and at the same time expand the market for meat. Can the Dominions co-operate in this movement? There is nothing to be gained by truculence or quarrelling ; prudent observers of market conditions and Mr Elliot’s policy say that all-round Imperial co-operation is the only way out, and there is much to support their view. But if w-e accept Australia’s example _ in the recent short-term negotiations those who threaten to make the most trouble get off best. A _ well-re-gulated market is essential and nothing is to be gained by flooding it and taking a gamble on the price factor. That is detrimental to the Dominion producer as w-ell as the Home e-rower. How to share the available market and expand it, with at the same time regulation of supplies and price stability, is the crux of the question. It is notable that .in recent weeks little or nothing has been heard from the British -Minister of Agriculture, and it is probable that he is nursing a long-term policy that may, with adjustments, prove acceptable to all concerned. He has yielded a point in connection with Australia, w-hich indicates that his attitude is not altogether an unbending one. The Morning Post in a conjecture regarding the forthcoming discussions hints that Mr Elliot may abandon his scheme of quotas and levies and abide by the present subsidies to Home growers. That perhaps is w-ide of the mark, and it may be hoped by the friends of the Dominion farmers

that it will not happen, because it would leave the Dominion meat raisers w-ith no protection whatever-. If the Minister sticks to his purpose of raising prices and expanding the domestic market, and grants the Dominions facilities for sharing that expansion, all will be w-ell—some commentators in Britain believe that is the Minister’s ultimate object. Priceraising and market expansion do not seem to run happily together, and there anxiety lies for the overseas exporter. How much of the market expansion also is to be allowed foreign interests is a crucial question. Now-, there has arisen a new factor which may strongly influence British agricultural policy. The proceedings at a British Farmers’ Union meeting this week indicate, says the Daily Mail, that a breakdown has occurred in the policy of the marketing schemes and quotas. The farmers’ president is reported as having stated that the Ottawa Agreement should be revised to achieve a unification of policy on the basis that in Britain’s markets the Home producers should come first, the Dominions second and foreigners third. If unification of policy is obtained on that basis at the coming conference on a long-term meat policy it may lead to stability in the market; but the Dominions look for something more than cold commercial candour in these negotiations — they seek a more tangible sign of the bond of kinship that binds the Empire together. On the subject of reciprocity New Zealand has nothing to fear.