MEAT AGREEMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22194, 22 August 1935, Page 13

MEAT AGREEMENT

MR. COATES EXPLAINS DOMINION BENEFITED SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT POINTS STILL TO BE FACED [BY TKLEGKAPH —PItESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The agreement with the British Government in regard to the supplies of meat to the United Kingdom was dealt with at length by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, at the civic reception to the Prime Minister and himself in Wellington to-night. In referring firstly to the British Government's desire to protect the farmers of the United Kingdom, Mr. Coates said that New Zealand's best policy was to co-operate with Britain so that any scheme evolved for protecting British producers would, as far as was humanly possible, also be in the best interests of New Zealand. Dominion producers had secured an agreement that no levy or tax woijd bo placed by Britain on imports of New Zealand mutton and lamb. In addition the principle of regulated marketing was retained, so that from both points of view—prices and quantities—the mutton and lamb agreement was eminently satisfactory. Uncompleted Meat Agreement

In regard to the unfinished meat agreement Mr. Coates said that in publicly discussing the beef position as the delegates left it, one who took part in the detailed discussions had the advantage of inside information, but for the moment that was also a disadvantage as finality was not readied. It might, however, be said that as far as New Zealand was concerned a satisfactory settlement had been reached. All outstanding matters of difference between themselves and other parties to the discussions —and differences were considerable enough at the early stages of the negotiations—had been cleared away. The settlement reached was acceptable to the New Zealand Cabinet and to the Meat Producers Board, but other Governments —some within and sonic beyond Empire Governments — which had treaty rights had yet to doline their attitude. Ono point generally recognised was that if producers were to be saved from ruin there must be an intelligent regulation of supplies. There must bo a collective effort, if farmers insisted on remaining in cut-throat competition they would suffer. Regulation of Supplies The next plain fact that had to bo faced was that the British Government was not prepared 011 its own ui«lividecl responsibility to rcgulato suppliV3 to their markets. It had found that that was a task —however necessary it might be in the interests of producers generally —to which considerable odium and difficulty was attached. It was plain that a tariff would not solve present problems, even if it gave substantial preference to New Zealand. They therefore were driven back to the necessity for a system of regulating supplies, and hence the suggestion to create an Empire Meat Council, which would have an extensive responsibility in relation to market supplies. In addition to the Empire Meat Council, it might be found expedient to have another inclusive authority which would embrace representatives of all supplying countries. To this conference the United Kingdom would call all who were substantially concerned with the British meat market. It would be an advisory and recommending body which would acquaint Governments of the facts and outlook for various types of meat. An obviously indispensable part of any such plan would be the effective organisation of producers. Their representatives would bo directly linked with the Empire Meat Council and with any other body of the kind. In New Zealand they already had un organisation in the Meat Producers' Board. The final responsibility would necessarily rest with Governments, but, short of taking the ultimate responsibility, the Meat Council could undoubtedly build around itself a useful set of functions. Question ol a Levy There had been considerable talk of imposing a levy on the imports of agricultural produce in order that the British producer might be assisted. Nothing in that aspect had been decided, said Mr. Coates, but it had been made clear that if there was to be a levy—and this would inevitably fall, in part at least, on the producers in countries of supply—they could not be altogether indifferent to the purposes for which it would be used. If it were earmarked solely for subsidising competitors of their own producers, regardless of efficiency, it would be more objectionable. If, in part at any rate, it could be nsed for taking surpluses off the market and for distributing them to the people who would otherwise bo going short, it would to that extent be less objectionable. The task of increasing consumption, especially among the poorer sections of the community, would have to be watched, said Mr. Coates. Naturally, it was to New Zealand's interest to cooperate in any endeavours to increase consumption, and the Government would give sympathetic support to any practicable methods of accomplishing this.