THE MEAT AGREEMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 258, 28 September 1935, Page 11

THE MEAT AGREEMENT.

MEMBER’S NOVEL EXPLANATION (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. ! A novel explanation of how New Zealand at the last moment managed to conclude the meat agreement with the English authorities was provided by Mr A. J. Stalhvortliy as one of bis contributions to the Budget debate in the House to-day. After criticising what he termed New Zealand’s deplorable failure to follow up the Ottawa Agreement by taking oft at the earliest possible moment the 3 per cent, primage duty on British imports the member for Eden said be was not surprised that there had been no crowing about the meat agreements with Great Britain. “New Zealand received an extension of time in respect of meat until March, 1936,” said Mr j Stallwqrthy. “And how is it that the | Dominion has been given this breathing space? Is it anything that the Government has done?” he asked. Replying to his own query in the negative, Air Stallworthy said that a few hours before the Minister of Finance left London there was no agreement. AVhen the Prime Minister left London there was no agreement, and Air Coates was in a quandary, so he went to somebody high up and that person telephoned Auckland and inquired whether there was any chance of a change of Government at the forthcoming elec- 1 tion.

“The reply was ‘Yes,’ and the person who was in a high position said ‘that is all we want to know,’ and next day the agreement was made,” said Mr Stallworthy. “Another few months’ time was given the New Zealand people to change the Government and the high exchange policy. That is the inner history of the agreement.”