MEAT EXPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17781, 17 May 1932, Page 9

MEAT EXPORT

EMPIRE MEAT OPPOSED SYDNEY, May 7. It whs stated that the Now South Wales Association of Meat Exporters cloes not agree With the proposals put ifonvard by the Graziers’ Associations .of Australia, tho Meat Board, the agents’ associations of New Zealand, 'and Canadian interests for Empire iprefereUce of meat. It is maintained by the association that “a tactical error has been made in supporting the proposals Which provide for the imposition of a duty on Empire meat.” “ft is possible,” a statement issued by the association reads, “that Aus tralia may not be able to offer adequate reciprocal concessions, in which case imports of meat from Australia would bo subject to the imposition of a duty of a half-penny per lb., if the scheme is adopted, instead of being admitted free as at present.” Mr F. W. Hughes, an exporter of frozen meat, said “‘Australia is in an entirely different 'position in this matter from Now Zealand. The meat export industry is of paramount importance to New Zealand —its manufacturing industries are negligible in comparison. It will, therefore, be comparatively easy for New Zealand to offer concessions which cannot be given by Australia, Argentine, Uruguay, and Brazil are the only countries over which it is remotely possible for us to obtain a preference in the supply of meat to Britain; but they also, if it became necessary, could offer substantial concessions in exchange for the maintenance of tho present position of equality with the Dominions. A duty of jd per lb. would absolutely ruin the meat export industry of Australia 1 . ”