MEAT PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22099, 3 May 1935, Page 11

MEAT PROBLEM

REVIEW OF SITUATION LEVY SCHEME EXAMINED PREFERENCE FOR DOMINIONS BASIS FOR AN AGREEMENT By Telegraph—PresH Association— Copyright (Received May 2, 10.5 p.m.) Times Cable LONDON, May 2 The Times publishes a lengthy review of the meat question. It observes that an extension of the subsidy to British farmers would not be well received by the taxpayers and concludes that some combination between the levy system and restriction is inevitable. The levy system should be confined to beef exports. It was generally supposed, continues the paper, that very substantial preference would be offered to Dominion supplies. The only other requirement would he that tlie total proceeds should not amount to so much less than the present subsidy of £6,000,Q00 a year that the British taxpayer would have still to find a large stun. This would mean a levy based on a definite allocation to the meat-produc-ing countries, an allocation which should not exclude a supply of chilled beef. It could only take the form of imports of equal volume to last year's, with provision for a small percentage increase over a subsequent period of years. If the reduction of foreign supplies were rather greater than the increase in Dominion supplies there would be the required margin for expansion of British production. The danger of exporters exceeding the allocation, says the Times, would be met by charging all excess imports with a levy so much higher than the normal rate as to be prohibitive.

This is the broad outline of a scheme which must have occurred to the present negotiators. No doubt the filling in of definite figures offers plenty of ground for argument, but given goodwill there need be no failure to reach an agreement.