EXCELLENT RESULT

Northern Advocate, 19 July 1935, Page 8

EXCELLENT RESULT

MEAT NEGOTIATIONS

WHAT LEVY. MEANT. SITUATION SURVEYED. TRIBUTES OF HON. R. MASTERS. ISpecial to "Northern Advocate"i AUCKLAND, This Day. The meat negotiations between New Zealand and Great Britain were re- • ferred to at Auckland yesterday by the Hon. R. Masters. “It will be remembered,” said Mr ' Masters, “that the original intention of the British Government was not only to restrict supplies by means of quota, ' but also to impose a levy on all meat - entering the United Kingdom. In / view of the very heavy export of lamb I and mutton from this Dominion, the position of both quota and levy would undoubtedly proved a drastic toll on ; supplies from New Zealand. “It must be borne in mind that the levy was intended for the protection of the beef produced by the United Kingdom agriculturists. Had the principle of the levy been maintained and insisted on, the amount payable by New Zealand on the basis of the export of all classes of meat would have been greater than that payable by Australia. “In view of the fact that the arrangement now made provides for the importation, of lamb and mutton without Vi: • a levy, and , also that the quota arrang'''W is in excess of the amount provided ; : f -New_ Zealand has every reason .to be satisfied with the excellent result of the negotiations. Furthermore, there is a considerable ‘ increase in the quantity of beef which we are permitted to ship. “This will have a very far-reaching ■ effect so far as our dairy farmers are concerned, in as much as the restrictions placed on the export of bobby calf meat will be relieved. This will reflect itself in very appreciable benegt to the dairy industry. Praise For Envoys. ‘ “I should like to pay a warm tribute to New Zealand’s representatives, Mr ■Forbes and Mr Coates, for the manner 1 in which they carried out these negotiations, and as a New Zealander to express my appreciation of the success which; has attended their efforts. The discussion in London affected the meat ..'markets of the whole world, and the " fact that our representatives have been able to emerge, yvith such a successful arrangement so far as the Dominion is -- concerned is evidence of the ability, tact and thought with which they presented New Zealand’s case. “Dhring the negotiations our repr.e- ---' sentatives also had the benefit of ..the assistance of Mr T. A. Duncan, chair-

man of the New Zealand Meat Board, , and Mr Forsyth, the board’s London manager,'men closely associated with the industry and in touch with all details and intricacies. There is no doubt that'our delegation was composed of men fully seized with the importance of the development of the meat industry, arid the statesmanlike manner in which they handled a most difficult task and brought it to a successful conclusion will reflect credit themselves and tremendous benefit to New Zealand.” THE OTTAWA SPIRIT. SATISFACTORY OUTCOME. [Per Press Association. — Copyright .] WELLINGTON, This Day. .Speaking at the Farmers’ Union Conference, Sir William Perry, deputy of the Meat Board, said an important fact stood out that the meat agreement was •a continuance of the Ottawa spirit. But for that spirit New Zealand would never have achieved the results she had. Although only a short-term agreement had been entered info * meantime, he thought New Zealand need have no fear as to the future if that spirit could be carried on. Taking it right through, the whole meat position seemed to him very satisfactory indeed. After all the uncertainty of the past few months it was a -great relief to find that things had .been, straightened out so much in New Zealand’s favour.