Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1935 THE MEAT AGREEMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18760, 17 July 1935, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1935 THE MEAT AGREEMENT

From the information so far available it would seem that New Zealand has every reason to congratulate itself on the measure oil agreement so far reached i" the negotiations with Great Britain regarding future supplies of meat. It is too early yet to ■assess the real effect of the conditions that have been accepted, but it is already evident that, even if the Dominion has not obtained all the concessions it would have desired, it has emerged from the discussions with a much greater degree of success than at one stage seemed probable, or even possible. It. has apparently been definitely decided that until the end of next year, at least, Great Britain will not impose any levy or tariff on New Zealand mutton and lamb and that there will be no curtailment of the supplies that may be exported. The advantages of these concessions are immediately apparent. Instead of the producers being called upon, to pay some hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum to provide a subsidy to British meat growers, their mutton and lamb, which comprise by far the, greater proportion of the total meat exports; will be admitted free of any impost. That is the first decided gain, but, even more important is Iho retention of the Ottawa principle that the Dominions should be granted an expanding share of the British market. Until quite recently, it seemed to bo inevitable that some? form of restriction would be imposed, but the position now is that the quota that has been fixed for next year allows for an increase of 10 per cent in mutton and lamb shipments. It is true that this condition does not give unlimited scope for the development of the export trade, but it is infinitely better than had been anticipated, and it means that if next year's quota is tilled a record quantity of New Zealand mutton and lamb will find an outlet on the British market. To fully understand the enormous advantages these terms represent over the original proposals, it is only necessary to recall that. Britain's original intention was that all meat entering the country should be subjected to a levy, anil that substantial reductions in quantities should be agreed to. It was recognised, of course, that the position applied with particular unfairness to New Zealand, sinee Britain's problem related mainly, if not wholly, to beef supplies, whereas this Dominion was concerned primarily, but not entirely, with mutton ami lamb. The situation was complicated through the previous assertion thai separate agreements with the different Dominions would not be contemplated, but that the position must Ik» treated as a whole. This, obviously, would have reacted detrimentally to New Zealand, and, consequently, the first stage of the fight in London was to have mutton and lamb dealt with separately. In this connection, New Zealand was not only opposed by the British representatives, but also found the Australians antagonistic, .-'nice they had more to gain by having whatever restrictions were imposed applied to mutton and lamb, with a consequent lightening of whatever imposts had to be applied to beef. It was on this ground that Mr. Coates took a determined stand, and that

his efforts have been crowned with success is a remarkable tribute, to his capacity for dealing with such an intricate question. The decision that Mr. Coates should be sent to London was subjected to some adverse criticism, but the action of' the Government has been more than justified by the results, for it has to be conceded that it is largely through his efforts that the shadow of a meat tariff and a" reduction of exports on one of the p Dominion's principle products, has been lifted. 'The negotiators have still to reach an agreement on the question of beef, but. the initial success makes it .possible to view the prospects in this, connection with greater equanimity. That some difficulty will be encountered is certain, for Britain is still determined to protect the interests of her beef raisers, but there is consolation in the ■knowledge that I he'burden, whatever form it ultimately takes, will fall less heavily on'New Zealand than it would have done had it applied to all moat imports; The London negotiations have not by any means been easy; on the contrary they have proved extremely difficult and protracted, and the very fact that even a partial agreement has been possible reflects the utmost, credit, on the negotiators on all'sides. So far as New Zealand is concerned there is even reason for mild jubilation, foe the prospect, not only for the producers who will directly benefit, but for all sections of the community, is immeasurably improved.