OTTAWA RESULTS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

OTTAWA RESULTS

EFFECT ON MEAT TRADE. LAMB AND MUTTON HIGHER. Reviewing the effect of the Ottawa agreements on the Dominions’ meat trade, the annual report of the Queensland Meat Industry Board states that the quota policy agreed upon with respect to mutton and lamb has obviously been of benefit to producers of those commodities in Great Britain and the Dominions. The Ottawa agreement provided that, beginning with the first quarter of 1933, foreign importations would be subjected to progressive quarterly reductions on the quantities imported during the year ended June 30, 1932, the report states. Commencing with a reduction of 10 per cent, for the first quarter in 1933, the total restriction amounted to 35 per cent, for the second quarter of 1934. Unless otherwise arranged this reduction of 35 per cent, is to remain in force until the termination of the agreement. A comparison of average prices for Australian produce shows a rise of from 2.98 d per lb to 4.38 d per lb for first quality wethers; from 2.86 d to 4.13 d for ewes; and from 4.94 d to 6.44 d for lambs. Referring to the export beef trade, the report states that at Ottawa it was agreed that from the beginning of 1933 the British Government would impose progressive restrictions upon the importation of foreign frozen beef similar to those for mutton and lamb. On their part Australia and New Zealand agreed to keep their shipments within bounds during 1933. With regard to foreign chilled beef,, it was provided that the maximum importations during each quarter of the period January 1, 1933, to June 30, 1934, should not exceed the quantities imported in the corresponding quarters of the year ended June 30, 1932. A subsequent agreement, which continues until November, 1936, between the British and Argentine Governments, provided for a reduction of 10 per cent, in foreign importations of chilled beef, so that both agreements should now have caused a reduction in foreign beef importations of 12J per cent, that is from 490,000 to 429,000 tons. ■ Unfortunately, wholesale prices for beef in the markets of Great Britain have not improved with those of other meat products, the report states. Actually, average prices are generally a shade lower than in 1932.