MEAT SUPPLIES

Northern Advocate, 31 May 1935, Page 8

MEAT SUPPLIES

BETTER PROSPECT I i . i FAVOURABLE TO NEW ZEALAND. | ■ OPINION OF MR COATES. [Per Press Association. —Copyrights DUNEDIN, This Day. An indication that the discussions regarding meat supplies at present in progress in London might result in an agreement favourable to New Zealand was given to the acting Minister of Finance, the Hon. A. Hamil- i ton, ;in an interview yesterday. Mr Hamilton stated that within the , past few days he had a further talk j with Mr Coates by radio telephone, j and the latter had expressed the j opinion that a satisfactory outcome would be reached. “Mr Coates said that he did not think there would be any further deadlock,” said Mr Hamilton. ANOTHER MEETING. MOST PROMISING YET. LEVY VARIATION PROPOSAL. AN ARGENTINE CONCESSION. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 30. A conference of British and Dominion Ministers and experts this forenoon surveyed the beef plans submitted by the British Government, in the hope of solving the previous impasse. After an hour’s discussion the details were referred to the whole of the experts, who sat in the afternoon and will hold further meetings and report to their respective delegations. Afterwards the full conference will again meet. It seems there is general agreement that it is the most promising proposal yet submitted, and it' has kindled strong hopes of an equitable agreement. The Australian Press Association learns that today’s talks opened up a new situation-. The British Ministers suggested proposals varying, in important directions, those set down in the White Paper. Britain proposed that there should be a levy on imported Empire chilled beef of £d! per lb> with I’d per lb. on foreign chilled and smaller levies, differentiating between Empire and foreign supplies of frozen beef. _ This quite changes the White Paper proposals, which were ad on Empire beef and Id on foreign. It is understood that the Argentine, despite the provisions of her trade agreement restricting Australia and New Zealand to experimental shipments only of minions being allowed to substitute chilled beef, has consented to the Dochilled for frozen to the fullest extent practicable within their quotas. Mr J. G. Coates voiced New Zealand’s strong objection to the imposition of any tariffs by Britain on Empire food products, the New -Zealand feeling being that it was a dangerous precedent, which might lead ultimately to taxation of other Empire goods like dairy produce. New Zealand strongly favoured that the situation be met entirely by quantitative restriction.