MEAT INDUSTRY

Northern Advocate, 5 November 1932, Page 7

MEAT INDUSTRY

| BRITISH FARMING PLIGHT ! ' DRASTIC ACTION MOOTED, CONTROL BY STATE. REGULATION OP SUPPLY. . (United Press Association —By Electrld Telegraph.—Copyright.) . (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, November 4r The “Daily Express” states ."that the Government has decider! to revive practically the war time control Of ; the meat industry. It says-, it-proposes to establish 22 public abattoirs, chill British beef like that of Argentina, and control the wholesale prices. The “ Daily Telegraph' ’ says Mr Neville Chamberlain candidly admits that the position, as regards meat has become worse since the Ottawa Conference, where a further fall in. prices: was never expected. The glut is mainly a dominions ’ glut, since imports 1 from Australia and New Zealand alone rose from 4,394,000 ewt in 1929, to 6,500,000 cwt in 1931.

Eor those who live by raising . stock, whether here or in the dominions* these figures do not represent plenty/ but ruin, . Never were the fatal consequences of an unregulated supply more vividly illustrated, says the paper. " STARTLING REPORT. ARGENTINA AGREEMENT. SECRET PROCEDURE,, , ; “DIVISION OF SPOILS.”' (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, November 3. The “Daily Herald” states that a secret agreement between the British Board of Trade and South American meat exporters is causing the Government embarrassment. The pact, which is to operate f0x;.,18 months from the new year,* has : been published at Buenos Aires. It ..permits the Freight Conference to import meat into Britain on the basis of . Argentina's imports in the period June, 1931June, 1932. “The firms concerned already have divided up the spoils,'.'.the “Herald” comments. “Should the British Government give way to the rebel .Conservative members of the House. ofr Commons, the Argentina negotiations must bo revised.” - C;;i

HOUSE OP LORDS DEBATE. QUOTA CONDEMNED. REPLY DISAPPOINTING;:. (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, November 3. In the House of Lords today- -Lord Cranworth initiated a debate on the state of agriculture in • Britain.’: Ho asked why the Government' was-' sticking to the meat quota when the“"donTiuions did not want it." - ‘ A duty of. 2d a pound on foreign meat would bring £25,000,000 a year. This would be a reasonable, duty to begin with. Earl de la Warr, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, in replying, said that to lend the farmers more money on the still falling market would be of very doubtful; use. Foreigners must realise the uselessness of throwing supplies on this saturated market. . : ” ‘ v ' It was hoped to place moat ijnpurts on a more permanent and orderly'basis. Lord Cranworth said he was disappointed with the reply.

AGREEMENT REACHED. ~ WITH SOUTH AMERICAN FIRM. WORLD PARLEY NEXT. YEAR. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) , RUGBY, November .4. Agreement has been reached’ between the British Government, and .the great South American meat exporting firms, under which the latter undertake voluntarily to reduce exports of meat to Britain on the lines suggested at Ottawa. By the Ottawa agreements the British Government agreed to adopt a policy with the object of raising the' prices of meat to a remunerative' level and progressively increasing the dominions’ share of the United Kingdom market. The maximum quantities of foreign meat to bo allowed to be imported into the United Kingdom were accordingly decided upon. During the coming year, and in the light of experience gained, the British Government will consider the best means of ensuring,an Improved price situation and a more" orderly marketing of supplies. For this purpose a world meat conference will be held next'year. ■ It;1q-to secure restriction to the Ottawa- level of the amount of meat imported pending the formulation of'.a more permanent plan after consultation with the interests concerned, that the agreement with South American exporters was reached.