Meat Discussions Suspended

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 100, 1 May 1935, Page 7

Meat Discussions Suspended

Arrival of Other Delegates

Awaited

MOTHERLAND’S DILEMMA United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph,—Copyright. LONDON, April 20. After a lengthy mootiug tho British and Australian Ministers suspended the meat discussions pending tho arrival of Hon. G. W. Forbes and General Hcrtzog next week. Tho British Minister will adhere to tho White Paper, but the Commonwealth Ministers remain opposed to tho levy. The British Ministers say it is impossible to continue the Home grown subsidy after June, consequently drastic restrictions are inevitable. The Dominion representatives doubt whether Britain will carry out her threat, fearing a Dominion reaction. The Australians anticipate the solid support of youth Africa and youthern Rhodesia, which share the Commonwealth’s anxiety to provide the best possible outlet for their chilled beef, but New Zealand is in a different position. Her mutton and lamb trade renders common cause with Australia unlikely. South Africa is able to Ohrow considerable weight into the argument owing to trade figures cabled on April 4.

Britain’s situation has been rendered more delicate owing to Cabinet having declined to extend tho Home beef subsidy beyond June, and having failed to secure Dominion and Argentine agreement to the levy. There remains the only alternative of restriction. This must, indeed, be drastic to protect thu Home farmer, but is unpopular in many quarters at Home, as well as in the Dominions. The Australians have little faith in obtaining a modification of the Argentine agreement during tiro remainder of its life. They prefer to concentrate on assuring a better place in the British market when Argentina’s present favourable agreement expires.

The White Paper issued on March fi stated that it is the British Government’s linn intention to safeguard the position of the United Kingdom’s livestock industry. The only practicable means at present available is a drastic reduction of imports from nil sources. If, however, the Dominions concerned and Rhodesia and Argentina will consent to necessary variations in their agreements, it will bo possible to deal with the situation by the imposition of a levy with or without a measure of supply regulation. The question therefore arises whether, with tho consent of tho Governments concerned, a levy should be imposed forthwith as an alternative to a drastic reduction of imports.