MEAT EXPORTS

Southland Times, Issue 22508, 16 February 1935, Page 5

MEAT EXPORTS

SHORT TERM AGREEMENTS. NOT FAVOURED BY DOMINION. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, February 15. Proposals for a continuation of the present short term agreement for the restriction of meat imports into Great Britain have been received by the Government from the Imperial authorities. The existing arrangement will expire on March 31, and a cablegram now in possession of the New Zealand Government sets out similar terms for a threemonthly period up to June 30. It has been made clear from time to time that New Zealand dislikes the principle of short term agreements and is anxious to have negotiated a long term arrangement that will make for stability and maintenance of prices. There is a feeling in Parliamentary circles that New Zealand will be obliged to give consideration to a long term plan which will not coincide with the views the Dominion Ministers hold or the related issues of meat restriction and levy. It would not be surprising therefore if at least one Minister is sent to London to take a personal part in the negotiations there with the British authorities and Australian Ministers. CABINET DISCUSSION GENERAL SURVEY OF POSITION. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, February 15. Cabinet deliberated from eight o’clock until nearly midnight on the British Government's _ long term meat quota and levy proposals which are still in the confidential stage.

Interviewed subsequently, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes stated that the proposals would receive further consideration at a later date. <ln the meantime Cabinet had surveyed the position generally and had devoted some time to analysing the proposals for a continuation of the short term plan for three months from March 31 when the current agreement expires. He did not anticipate that any difficulty would be encountered over the short term arrangement which would vary in some respects the' existing agreement owing to the necessity of having new allocations made. He expected that a reply would shortly be sent to the British Government. Concerning the long term ? plan, an immediate answer was not required and careful consideration would be given to the proposals in due course.