DOMINIONS' MEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21845, 6 July 1934, Page 12

DOMINIONS' MEAT

EXPORTS TO BRITAIN PROBLEM NOT YET SOLVED ALTERNATIVES OFFERED LEVY OR RESTRICTION By Telesrnph—Press Association —Copyright (Received July 5, 5,5 p.m.) LONDON. .Tuly 5 . Yesterday's discussions of the British nnd Dominions' .meat problem did not progress far beyond tho point reached on June 27. However, tho British Ministers desire finality by July 11 when a meeting will bo held at 9.30 a.m. It will precede Cabinet meeting, fixed for noon, at which the Dominions Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, and the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Walter Elliot, hope to submit a preliminary draft in readiness for legislation within a fortnight. It is still impossible to say whether a levy or other measures will bo proposed. The Dominions' replies to Argentina's attitude were discussed yes-' terday, but further consultations will bo necessary with tho Governments. Britain proposes a combination of a quantitative restriction and a levy on beef, mutton and lamb. The terms of the levy would give the Dominions 50 por cent preference over foreign, the proceeds to provide financial aid for home producers. The proposals include mutton and lamb because it is felt that beef prices would be further depressed if beef were singled out. Britain is introducing the levy proposals because she realises the remoteness of gaining an agreement on restrictions which would be drastic enough materially to improve prices. While the Dominions are resigned to the inevitability of quotas they would not welcome the addition of a levy.

Tlie Board of Trade is negotiating concurrently witli Argentina in the liope of surmounting the difficulties in the way of an agreement. The Daily Telegraph's well-informed special correspondent states that Britain .offered the Dominions the choice between two alternatives. One was a levy Of one penny a lb. on all imported beef, coupled with a voluntary scheme of quantitative regulation of imports from the Empire in order to standardise these at the level of the year ended June 30, 1932. i\ The other alternative was that Britain should impose compulsory .drastic restriction on the volume of meat reaching the home market. . Argentina's agreement would be required for the execution of the first alternative. The conference reserved for .further consideration the extent of the intended preference to the Dominions. , Britain pointed out that the purely temporary measures would 6ave the 'farmers from ruin during the two-year "period which must be used to work out permanent schemes.