RESTRICTION QUESTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21968, 27 November 1934, Page 5

RESTRICTION QUESTION

MEAT FOR BRITAIN AUSTRALIA AND DOMINION CONFERENCE IN CANBERRA [ [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY. Nov. 23 Now that Dr. Page, Leader of the Country Party, has joined the Federal Cabinet, it is expected that Australia will assert itself even more than it has done in the past in fighting against the restriction of meat exports to tho United Kingdom. Those interested in the meat trade complain that to da to the Federal Government has not been as frank as it should have been in declaring its attitude toward restriction, and there is a suggestion that it is anxious not to offend tho British Government. The most definite pronouncement to. date was made by Dr. Page when he met the New Zealand Ministers, Messrs. Coates and Masters, at a preliminary conference in Sydney on Monday. "On the general question of the restriction of our exports," he said, "our attitude * must be that we will oppose restriction by every means within our power. If there is any restriction practised by Great Britain, it should bo first practised against foreign countries and should only be applied to tho Dominions as a last resort." Great interest will be attached to further conferences* which will begin in Canberra next Monday. The New Zealand Ministers are expected to play an important part in these discussions, which will centre around the creation of machinery for mutual consultation between tho Dominion and Australia. The need for a better trade understanding between New Zealand and c Australia was emphasised at: a dinner held in Sydney on Monday night, when the guest was the former Federal Attor-ney-General, Mr. J. G. Latham. Meanwhile the Federal Government has referred the question of restriction of exnorts to the Australian Meat Advisory Council, which is expected to report to the conference that will open in Canberra on Monday. The Advisory Council is composed of those interested in the meat trade, and it is highly probable that it will be against any form of restriction. It will probably recommend that the Federal Government should continue negotiations with, the British Government before agreeing to any of the demands that may be made. It is pointed out that the meat industry in Australia is really in a parlous plight and not in a position to withstand any further setbacks.