MEAT IMPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21807, 23 May 1934, Page 11

MEAT IMPORTS

QUOTA DISPUTE REGULATION SUPPORTED / / CABINET ADVOCACY OUTSIDE OPPOSITION INTEREST CUT FEARED / Br Telecrnpli—Press Association Copyright (Received May 22. fi.25 p.m.) LONDON. Mny "2 \ sneoial correspondent of the T)aily Tetyirranh. reiterating the plight of British hoof producers, points out that the British Government will rerain the freedom to regulate Dominion meat imports on .Tune HO. The pa nor says that Ministers are still in constant touch with the Dominions on the subject, seeking their consent to a plan to regulate supplies. Tf the Dominions persist in their refusal the Ministers arc determined, first and foremost, to look after the needs of the Home producer. The Government's choice of action lies between imposing quotas on both Dominion and foreign imports, or insulating the Home producer from the shock of abnormally low prices by means of price guarantees, as has been done temporarily for the benefit of the dairy farmers. The Second Course I The second course, although assuring remunerative prices to the Home producers and cheap meat to the consumers, leaves the Dominions to sink o." swim "in an unregulated market, in which prices might drop to any level.

The Ministers will therefore continue to urge the Dominions to accept the regulation scheme, guaranteeing them an expanding share in the British market and remunerative prices. The Ministers refuse to subscribe to the argument that there can be further drastic cuts in foreign imports to make way for the growing Dominion supplies, on the. ground that this would jeopardise British manufacturers in the foreign trade. P

The political correspondent of tlie Daily Herald says that the City is mobilising its strength to defeat Mr. Walter Elliot's policy for additional quota restrictions on Argentine and Dominion/ meat. Interest From Abroad Powerful representations have been made to' Mr. Neville Chamberlain. Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. "Walter Ilunciman, President of the Board of Trade, that the quota policy endangers interest payments on British investments in Australia, New Zealand and Argentina, totalling £1,000,000,000. To carry out a bargain with the farmers Mr. Elliot must overcome the City's objections, together with those of the Dominions. Mr. Elliot wants to reduce Argentine meat imports by 10 per cent, but this entails a corresponding cut in Dominion imports. Argentina tells Mr. Elliot that iffhe forces a 10 per cent cut she will make a corresponding reduction in the transfer of payments to Britain. , The controversy is arousing much ba,d blood in all directions, and there is trouble ahead for Mr. Elliot. i *—•*