MEAT EXPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21899, 7 September 1934, Page 10

MEAT EXPORTS

CONFEBENCE IN LONDON 4 DISCUSSIONS NEXT MONTH r BRITAIN'S POLICY TO EMERGE NO QUOTA AT PRESENT r [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thursday The announcement that the next step in the meat export situation as it affected New Zealand would bo a conference tin London next month was made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, in an interview to-night. Mr. Forbes said it was expected that all the British Ministers immediately concerned in the recent negotiations would be back in London by then and New Zealand would be represented at the conference by the High Commissioner, Sir James Parr. The necessity for an early definition of arrangements was emphasised by Mr. Forbes in view of the fact that the exporting season was at hand. He expected the permanent policy of Britain to emerge from the October discussions. It was important that the quantities for the six months from December to June should be announced as quickly as practicable. Mr. Forbes said there was no question of a quota being applied at present, and thfc proposals in that connection stated in a press cablegram to be applied to the United States and Argentina did not affect New Zealand, which was negotiating for a voluntary arrangement. A desire to table in the House of Representatives a summary of the cablegrams recently exchanged on the meat question bad been expressed to the British Government by the New Zealand Government and a reply to that representation was still being awaited.

RESTRICTIONS IMPOSE? BOARD NOT RESPONSIBLE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday The possible publication of the cablegrams exchanged on the meat question was referred to by the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Government —Wairarapa) in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. McLeod said he was glad the Prime Minister was seeking the permission of the British Government to remove the confidential stamp from cablegrams dealing with most important negotiations. "Either wittingly or unwittingly," he added, "an attempt has been made to drive the wedge between our two great industries, sheepfarming and dairying. The statement has been made and recently reiterated that the Meat Board was responsible for stopping the export of certain classes of our meat, and that the Home authorities/did not ask for these restrictions. This is definitely contrary to fact. The British Government asked that we Bhould not exceed our Ottawa quotas until some 1 different arrangement had been made."