A SUCCESSFUL MISSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22191, 19 August 1935, Page 8

A SUCCESSFUL MISSION

Mr. Coates' return from a successful mission serves as a reminder of the grave issues which called for his presence in London. Only a few short months ago a British White Paper presented New Zealand with the alternative of accepting a meat levy, if her trade was not to be subjected to "drastic" restriction. Australia was offered the same alternative and, although meat is a far less important item to Australia, the Commonwealth Prime Minister, with the Minister of Customs and a large secretariat, proceeded post-haste to London and were occupied for months in negotiations with the British Government. Mr. Coates spent weeks instead of months in London and has been able to conclude an entirely satisfactory agreement. When New Zealand's bigger stake in the meat trade is considered, the value of his services needs no emphasis. The threat of a levy, which would have cost New Zealand farmers £830,000, has been averted. On the other hand, the restrictions agreed upon are certainly not "drastic" ; indeed, the quotas fixed for mutton and lamb are generous and enable producers to look a long way further ahead than had recently been possible. Agreements on pork, bacon and beef are also satisfactory, although of shorter currency. With respect to beef, Mr. Coates announces a long-term pact with Britain, subject to acceptance of the new policy by other countries. So Mr. Coates has been able to put the meat export trade into much better shape than seemed at all possible when the British proposals were published in March. Another pending problem is that of dairy produce, the existing protection to the Dominion under the Ottawa agreement expiring on November 15. Britain has intimated her intention of substituting levies fof quotas in this department but finds her hands tied by foreign trade pacts until next year. Meanwhile Mr. Coates has obtained written assurances from Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Elliot that, before the new policy is applied, the question should be subject to consultations to which New Zealand will be a party. To have obtained so important and valuable an undertaking would alone have justified Mr. Coates' mission. Even had he been less successful in this and in the meat, negotiations, New Zealand could not have afforded to go unrepresented in discussions affecting three-fourths of her exports, and, in fact, the very basis of her economic life. I