BRITAIN’S MEAT POLICY

Northern Advocate, 11 July 1936, Page 6

BRITAIN’S MEAT POLICY

Britain, it is cheering to know, realises that if she must obtain a portion of her foodstuffs from overseas, she should give preference to Empire producers. Her Government has indicated that eoiivietioij in proposals for the regulation of meat imports in conjunction with the movement to safeguard the livestock industry of the Old Land. The terms of the proposals were printed in our cable columns on Wednesday last. Naturally, details of the scheme will not be released until consultations with the Dominions and Argentina have taken place: bujt the statement made by the Hon. Walter Elliot arc sufficient to reveal a substantial change in the outlook of Britain’s meat policy. The units of the Empire _ are drawing closer together in these matters. In the present instance only beef is immediately involved, and the outstanding fact is that Britain is granting to Australia, a larger share of her market than there was reason to hope for at any stage since the early stages of the negotiations, at the , beginning of last year. A long-term agreement not only establishes a threefarthings levy on Argentine beef and nothing on Australian, but also a reduction in the present Argentine quota, while the Commonwealth’s quota remains unchanged. In regard to. mutton and lamb, the present system will be continued in 1937. The change in respect to beef is of more importance to Australia than New Zealand, but the main feature of the new arrangement will, no doubt, prove distinctly advantageous as a precedent to all Empire countries in discussions which | must be held during the coming { season preparatory to the revision of the Ottawa • pacts.