MEAT FOR BRITAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22465, 8 July 1936, Page 14

MEAT FOR BRITAIN

REGULATED MARKET POLICY EXPLAINED NO LEVY ON DOMINIONS EMPIRE COUNCIL TLAN By Tcleprrnph—rrcss Association—Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, July O Proposals for safeguarding the livestock industry were disclosed in the House of Commons to-day by Mr. Walter Elliot, Minister of Agriculture. He said the Government proposed to proceed on the basis of a regulated market with maximum supplies for the consumer consistent with a reasonable level of remuneration for the producer. It was tho Government's desire that nt tho earliest possible date the responsibility far securing a stable market condition should bo assumed by tho producers in the various Countries concerned, and exercised in tho light of joint discussion of the problems involved. This discussion would bo secured by the institution of an Empire Meat Council, representative of the United Kingdom and other Empire countries concerned, and tho International Meat Conference, representative of the United Kingdom, other Empire countries and foreign countries supplying substantial quantities of meat to this market.

It would be proposed that, unless agreed otherwise, aggregate exports to this market of beef, frozen and chilled, and meat equivalent of fat cattle during each of tho next three years, should not exceed recent levels. Further proposals as to market regulation wore under discussion with the Governments of the countries concerned. No Duties on Empire Bee!

The Government proposed to invite Parliament to make provision for a permanent scheme for the payment from the Exchequer of a subsidy to producers of fat cattle in the United Kingdom. which, while not stimulating artificial expansion of the home industry would continue for so long as, and to the extent that the situation might require.

Immediately after the summer recess Parliament would be invited to pass legislation providing for tho collection of Customs duties on imports of chilled, frozen and other descriptions of beef and veal from foreign countries.

It was not proposed that there should be duties on imports of beef from Empire countries or on imports of mutton and lamb from any country. The Government proposed to seek the authority of Parliament to apply to the assistance of the cattle industry such sums, not exceeding £5,000,000 a year, as might from time to time be needed. As an offset to this liability the Exchequer would benefit to the extent of the revenue from import duties. No Change in Lamb and Mutton Mr. Elliot said that the Cattle Committee, which administers the present temporary subsidy, would consult the various interests concerned so that the payment to home producers of fat cattle would be so adjusted as to encourage quality in production. As regards mutton and lamb, imports of which are at present regulated in the case of foreign imports under statute, and in the case of Dominion imports by voluntary arrangements, the Government proposed to continue the present system for 1937. The question would fall for consideration in due course as to whether, after that date, an International Meat Conference in association with the Empire Meat Council should operate in regard to exports of mutton and lamb to this market, as a precautionary measure. The Government would ask Parliament to give it general power to regulate imports of livestock and meat should the need arise.

CHANGE IN OUTLOOK * AUSTRALIA'S POSITION OPTIMISM JUSTIFIED LONDON, July (i The fact that Mr. Elliot's statement on the regulation of the meat market was confined to an outline of policy and did not include detailed figures has not surprised Australian quarters, which realise that they are dependent upon consultations with other Dominions and with Argentina. Nevertheless, the statement confirms optimistic forecasts. The nature of the agreement indicates a substantial change in the outlook of Mr. Walter Runciinan, President of the Board of Trade, and Mr. Elliot, since the negotiations for a long-term policy began last year, hastened by Dr. Earle Pago's persistent demand for increasing the market for Australian beef. No definition has yet been reached of Mr. Elliot's phrase, "recent levels," but the total imports for the next three years will probably be fixed on a basis of the calendar year 1935, in which Australia's 1,696,000cwt. of beef compares with 961,000 in 1932. The Australian Associated Press says it understands that the Yorkshire Post's forecast of a compulsory reduction in the quantity of Argentine supplies is well founded. As the total Imports remain unchanged, Australia and the other Dominions will share a combined increase in the neighbourhood of 10 per cent, as the total Empire supplies of beef were 2,879.000 in 1935, compared with the total of foreign 8,764,000, of which Argentina's was 7,642,000. Argentina, therefore, will continue to export to Britain more than twice as much as the whole Empire.