FEW DEVELOPMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18465, 2 August 1934, Page 5

FEW DEVELOPMENTS

MEAT EXPORT CRISIS PROBLEMS OF CONTROL NORTH ISLAND’S POSITION (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. When meat- killings for the North and South Islands are contrasted, they vividly support the point that the main problems surrounding the control over meat export affect the North Island. The difficulties centre upon beef and pork, and the North Island’s dominant interest in (lies' l classes of meat is shown l,v the Meat Board’s figures. Killings for the season ending June 30 were as follows:—

North I. South I Beef quarters ... 371,008 132 Porkers carcases ... 324,795 13,649 Baconor carcases ... 94.742 7,793 Boneless beef freight carcases 439.890 62,821

Where the South Island comes prominently into the picture is in mutton and lamb, where the killings in both islands are more evenly balanced. The discussions in which the Meat Board and Dairy Board representatives participated yesterday produced a more hopeful outlook for the dairying industry, which is so-v threatened by the drastic reductions in pork exports. The first reasuring point is the further confirmation of yesterday’s telegram that the proposals are not final, hut arc subject to suggestions to the British Government. Now that the Meat Board's view has been officially submitted.to the Cabinet, the pork restrictions formed the main subject of the representations to the Government, the Meat Board substantially supporting the dairy interests in a request that pork should be excluded from the quota in order to save dairy farmers from a disastrous reductiou of their increased output, which has been so strongly encouraged by the Meat Board in its anxiety to add a further profitable line to dairy production. NEW ZEALAND PENALISED It is expected, however, that some restraint will be necessary in the extension of pork production, which is capable of such rapid expansion, three years’ figures showing a trebling of production. Further relief to pork producers is likely owing to tho Meat Board’s reported recommendation to the Government that the embargo on the shipment of bobby calf, and offal such as kidneys, hearts, and sweetbreads, should be lifted. Britain attaches importance to the meat import limitations, as otherwise the subsidy on home production will become unreasonably high, but it is to be urged not to impose its original limitation on frozen pork, but to permit say 50 per cent, increase on the Ottawa year figures, which would allow approximately the same export from Now Zealand as last year. Britain wishes to be in a position to allocate import quotas every six months, enabling it to take into account the results of a six-monthly census of its live stock production, but this method is operating to the special disadvantage of New Zealand, where the Meat Board has regulated shipments, arranging a spreading which operated to prevent a glut and maintain higher average prices throughout the season.

It is claimed, and this, point probably will be submitted bv the Government to the British authorities, that a fairer system of regulation would bo to adopt quotas based on three-year export avertlgk"S' TARIFF CONCESSIONS

A suggestion has emerged from lobby discussions that Australia, thanks to a peculiar from of period restrictions, is coming out much better than New Zealand.

One prominent farming member advocates a more robust form of communication to Britain in the form of a reminder that New Zealand has held to the strict letter of its financial obligations to Britain, paying high interest when part had to be obtained by drawing on past resources, while Australia has been more, insistent on its own requirements. Its British preference:! are trifling compared to the New Zealand tariff, yet, under Britain’s policy of refusing to make individual agreements with the Dominions, New Zealand has, unfortunately, become a victim.

The Meal, Board and Dairy Board representatives have, completed their conference with the. Cabinet and the Prime Minister, the Rt. lion. G. W. Forbes, states that no further discussions are necessary in the meantime. New Zealand’s views on the proposals, and the suggested export quotas, are being cabled Home, and when flic British Government’s reply is received, Mr. Forbes will bo in a position to make n Ministerial statement on the whole subject in Parliament Until a settlement had been reached, Mr. Forbes said, ho would be unable to make any detailed statement regarding the nature of New Zealand’s latest representations. However, he hoped ultimately to release for publication the cablegrams which have recently been passing between the two countries. He considered that it would not be advisable to open the question for debate in the House until the negotiations now proceeding had been completed. QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT

In the House yesterday, Mr. 11. G. Dickie (Coal., Patea), on behalf of himself and Mr. W. J. Poison asked the Prime Minister (1) whether in view of the embargo announced by the Meat Producers’ Board upon the killing and export of cow beef, boneless beef and boneless veal, he will give the House an early opportunity of discussing Ihe matter, and (2) will the Government amend the Meat Export Control Act this session, in order to give producers and exporters of beef, pork and veal some representation on the Meat Producers’ Board?

The Prime Minister replied : (1) “An opportunity for the House to discuss the meat export position will be afforded at an early date; (2) exporters of beef, pork, and veal are not entirely unrepresented on the Meat Producers’ Board. While, the official list of sheepowners forms the roll upon which the election of members of the board is based, many of these sheepowners are also producers of other kinds of stock. The question of what legislation additional to that already notified will be introduced during the session is at present under consideration.’’ AUSTRALIA’S POSITION STATEMENT SHORTLY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) CANBERRA, Aug. 1. In the House of Representatives tO\ day, the Minister of 'Commerce, Mr F. 11. Stewart, said he hoped to make a comprehensive statement on the meat situation shortly.

Replying to a question, lie said that it was not considered advisable to make available the communications' that had passed between the Commonwealth and the British Governments.