MEAT DISCUSSIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 11

MEAT DISCUSSIONS

NO FINALITY REACHED ATTITUDE OF ARGENTINA LONDON. June 24 The meat discussions between the British and Australian representatives were continued to-day. Good progress is reported. . A meeting of the complete Imperial assembly will be held this afternoon. In the meantime, Mr. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, will again consult the Argentine representatives. The Dominions are awaiting Mr. Runciman's report, without which it is impossible for Britain to submit practical propositions. . It seems certain that the Argentine will continue her strong opposition to a penny per lb. margin between the levies on Dominion and foreign supplies. Britain to-day offered concessions regarding the Meat Council to be formed in London to control the supply situation. Australia and New Zealand both pressed that it must be a purely Empire council, feeling that if it included foreign meat interests Dominion representation would be swamped. Britain now seems inclined to concede this point. The meat discussions in London have in part involved a difference between Australia and New Zealand as to whether future exports to Britain should be based on shipments in the Ottawa vear, 1932, or on the shipments during 1934. A comparison of the two countries' shipments of beef and mutton and lamb since 1932 explains this conflict of view. The discussions representatives of Australia and New Zealand have centred chiefly in mutton and lamb, in which New Zealand shipments have declined since 1932, but Australian have advanced. The following figures of exports from the two countries are contained in a survey of the meat trade issued by the Imperial Economic Committee: — MUTTON AND LAMB (In thousand cwt.) 103-2 1933 1934 New Zealand . . 3.851 3.817 8,489 Australia . . . . 1,356 1,250 1,713 CHILLED AND FROZEN BEEF (In thousand cwt.) 1932 1933 1934 New Zealand . . 535. 9-9 89S Australia . . 1.264 1,414 1,765