The Times MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1939. Forecasts Fulfilled

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 42, 20 February 1939, Page 6

The Times MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1939. Forecasts Fulfilled

The Old Country authorities have lost little time in acting upon the intimation given recently by the British Minister of Agriculture that, with or without the concurrence of the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, a further restriction would be imposed upon the volume of mutton and lamb to be imported into the United Kingdom from those countries. It was left to the President of the Board of Trade to make the formal announcement, as appearing in our Saturday’s issue, that “for the current year (presumably calendar year) the permissible imports of frozen mutton and lamb from Australia and New Zealand would be 3 per cent, below last year’s imports.” Assuming the message to state the position correctly, what has to bo specially noted is that the percentage reduction is not to be calculated upon the quota allowance fixed for last year but upon the actual imports which, so far as concerns New Zealand, were considerably less in quantity than the quota. How far this will affect our exports for the current year cannot yet be said, there being some suggestion that in any case they may not come up even to last year’s actual export record. Bo that as it may, the outlook for the further future cannot be regarded as very bright in the way of encouraging the increase in production which even the Government admits is essential in order to enable the country to carry the heavy burden of taxation that has been imposed upon it for one purpose and another.

The cable message makes it clear that the limitation of imports is made entirely in the interests of the meat-growing industries of Great Britain, which have for some years been experiencing anything but a prosperous time, in spite of substantial financial support afforded by the Home Government. It is hoped that the reduction in competition from abroad may help materially towards lifting prices for the home product, which in some instances had fallen below those realised for corresponding imports. Whether this expectation will be realised may be problematical, especially as it is said that an appreciable increase in the home output is in view. That the cut in imports is likely to be permanent, with the possibility of being made deeper, is indicated by the opinion offered by the President of the Board of Trade that flourishing flocks and herds at homo would provide the best guarantee of adequate meat supplies in case of emergency.

Again it has to be queried as to why our Minister of Marketing has preserved a profound silence as to the discussions that were going forward with such a result in manifest prospect. He now admits that the discussions have been in progress “since the latter part of last year,” but has no apology to make for withholding from those most intimately concerned all information as to their trend and probable outcome. Having thus kept them in ignorance of the nature and trend of the negotiations, he can now do nothing more than express useless regret at their unfavourable result.

At the same time the Minister makes vague suggestions that “the Government will be able to deal with the position in some other way” and that “we shall be able to adapt ourselves to the new circumstances created by the quota.” It is certainly up to Mr. Nash to let the Dominion producers know what may be the alternatives he has ill mind, so that they may be able to judge for themselves what likelihood there is of their being able to find other markets for their surplus products. It is entirely unfair to them that they should have been kept in the dark as long as they have been, and even Mr. Nash should recognise that the time has now come when he should make a complete and detailed disclosure of the facts of the case and of his Government’s intentions regarding the situation that has arisen.