The MANAWATU DAILY Times SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1936. Meat Outlook Good

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 288, 5 December 1936, Page 4

The MANAWATU DAILY Times SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1936. Meat Outlook Good

Tuc terms of the Anglo-Argentine meat agreement are an excellent omen tor New Zealand producers. The future of our market in Britain appears assured tor the next three years, judging on the terms oX the Argentine settlement, there is every reason to expect a most satisfactory agreement for New Zealand supplies.

Argentine mutton, lamb anti pork will enter Britain flee of dutv and therefore it may be presumed that no duty will apply to Empire products. A duty of lid per lb. will be applied to chilled beet and veal, 2-3 d per lb. on frozen beef and 2U per cent, on other beef. Almost for certain, half these latcs of duty •will be applied to Empire beef. We may therefore anticipate j>d per lb. duty on our chilled beef, one of l-3d per lb. on our frozen beef and alO per cent, duty on “boner” beef. These tolls will not bear unduly upon our pastoral industry.

The quantitative regulations are of importance. The light degree of reduction that may be demanded by Britain of the Argentine chilled beef supplies indicates that Empire supplies are in no danger of further restriction. Indeed, it may reasonably be assumed that allowance has been made for a modest increase in Empire supplies. Present quotas for “other” beef and for pork will be maintained.

Regarding mutton and lamb, the Argentine agreement provides for a substantial decrease of supply being ordered, at Britain’s option. A reduction of as much as 10 per cent, may be imposed during the third year of the agreement. It appears as if Argentina bargained away her lamb and mutton supply for the purpose of holding her right to supply beef. This may open up good possibilities for increased supplies of Empire lamb and mutton. New Zealand would stand to gain most from this outcome.

Altogether, the Argentine agreement is a most happy augury for a highly satisfactory New Zealand settlement. A three-years’ agreement, with provision for reasonable expansion of export supply and a modest duty on beef only, may now be anticipated. General principles are already settled; wc need but await the details.

The Airport Poll

By a very small majority the airport loan was carried and Palmerston North has definitely secured a first-class airport. That latter is the chief concern. With every prospect of becoming the chief air service centre of the Dominion, it would have been an extraordinary situation for the city not to have possessed an airport of first rank.

The voting on the loan proposal was approximately eight for to seven against. Considering the soundness of the proposal, it merited much stronger support. The very modest polling also calls for comment; only two ratepayers in each seven troubled to record their votes, this despite Press publicity, circulars, a public meeting and provision of free cars to take voters to polling booths. Neglect of public duty by five ratepayers out of each seven cannot but be condemned.

Opposition to the loan proposal was fairly strongly expressed in some quarters. This might have been lessened had the revenue potentialities of the airport been more fully explained.

One important lesson may be learned from this poll. Citizens are in no mood for extravagance in municipal affairs. They are thoroughly aware that the city of Palmerston North already has a very substantial indebtedness, amounting to approximately £900,000. The interest charges amount to almost £22,000 per annum. The airport proposal was not, in our opinion, an extravant one. We do, however, fully understand and sympathise with the opposition expressed thereto.

Each and every proposal requires consideration upon its merits. Fixed opposition to every proposed expenditure would be an unwise policy. But, most certainly, careful investigation should be made of any proposals involving loan raising. Cost, necessity and prospective return are the three principal considerations to be studied.