MEAT FOR FRANCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 616, 31 January 1916, Page 3

MEAT FOR FRANCE.

BIG CONTRACT ANNULLED. CHANCE FOR BRITISH DOMINIONS. /;../ I '.)■'„'.'. — Prtst.l Is-iociafi'in. — Copyright. LONDON. January 28. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, explaining his speech delivered id Whitehall last Tuesday, says lhal Sir T. B. Robinson (Agent-General lor Queensland) and himself learned that a contract was proposed between the French Government and American meal firms for the supply of 12(1,000 tons of frozen meal annually at war prices, operating until 1(121), or for three months after the conclusion of peace. The meat was to he supplied from the River Plate, carried exclusively in French ships, and admitted to France duly irvv, an advantage of 2d per pound. Within two hours of being informed, the British Government decided to act. Negotiations with the French Government, during which Sir T. 15. Robinson visited France, resulted in the project being dropped, although the Bill to give effect to the contract was before the Senate. "Our protest," said Sir Thomas Mackenzie, "was based on the argument that the contract was an unfair concession to neutral traders, which was denied to British Dominions capable of supplying tlie meal on equal terms. The contract would have seriously affected the Australian and New Zealand meat trade. We have arrived at satisfactory arrangements with France, who will obtain the meat from British and other sources on equal terms."