FUTURE OF EMPIRE TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1934, Page 5

FUTURE OF EMPIRE TRADE

NEGOTIATIONS TO BE BEGUN THE DOMINIONS AND BRITAIN TRADE PACTS’ EXPIRATION CONSERVATIVES’ SCHEME By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 10.25 p.m. London, May 2. Negotiations are to be opened almost immediately between the Dominions Office and the official representatives of the Dominions in London concerning the future of the Empire trading, particularly as regards meat imports, says the Daily Express. The British Government will urge the Dominions to accept some form of restriction to cover the , period until the trade pacts with foreign countries expire, says the Evening Standard lobbyist. The Conservative Parliamentary agricultural committee, in view of uneconomic trading in 'Danish and Dutch butter, which it was contended amounted in effect to a bounty on exports to Britain to the prejudice of English and Dominions producers, decided to invite Mr. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, to discuss the problem with the committee.

The committee also appealed to the Government to assist the live stock industry in a similar manner to the wheat bounty and proposed a subsidy on meat on the basis of £2 8s a cwt. for cattle and £2 16s a cwt. for sheep, which, would be raised by a levy of a penny a pound on imported meat, . producing £6,500,000 in a normal year. The scheme would in no way operate against the Dominions and Colonies, it was claimed.

The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent says that talk about an Empire conference in London this year has no foundation, but negotiations among the High Commissioners are already in progress and it is confidently expected that an understanding will be reached.