TO DECIDE ISSUE

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1935, Page 5

TO DECIDE ISSUE

ARBITRATOR POSSIBLE DISAGREEMENT ON MEAT BRITAIN MAY TAKE ACTION DOMINION DISAPPOINTED AUSTRALIANS UNYIELDING By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, June 3. In consequence of the failure of the Australian and New Zealand experts to reach an agreement on exports .of mutton and lamb it was arranged at today’s meeting, says the Australian Press Association, that if the disagreement continued the figures should be referred for a decision to an arbitrator or arbitrators acceptable to Britain, Australia and New Zealand. In the event of a disagreement over the award the British Government itself would decide the issUe. ■ The Australian Press Association understands that the New Zealanders. are most disappointed that a quick decision lids not been obtained, as they feel that they have made every concession, adopting, the Ottawa year, 1932, while Australia is unyielding in her demand to continue her swollen exports of 1934. Mr. W. E. Elliot presided at the meeting, which discussed the respective Australian and New Zealand percentages. Sir Henry Gullett (Australia) and Mr. J. G. Coates (New Zealand), with their respective experts, were present. Nd decision was reached. ' The New Zealand Society tendered a lunch to Mr. G. W. Forbes and Mr. Coates at the Savoy Hotel under the presidency Of Sir James Parr. Mr. W. E. Elliot, British Minister of Agriculture, toasting New Zealand, compared his positidn> at such a gathering with Daniel in the lions’ den, except that Daniel’s -task was relatively simple, inasmuch as their was not enough meat to go round. "Our feet are now set upon a road which will lead to a successful solution of the problem of primary industries, which, is to increase consumption,” said Mr. Elliot. "We ~ faced a Specially stubborn and intractable problem in beef, because consumption has fallen. "The Government, .with so many problems on its hands, cannot afford to devote as much time as has been devoted to detailed questions of foodstuffs. Some machinery is necessary to deal. with it. This great problem concerns me day and night. It will require attention for many years.

"I could not ask for better collaborators -than Messrs. Forbes and Coates and Sir James Parr,” concluded Mr. Elliot. •Mr. Forbes said he hoped Mr. -Elliot would be gratified by New Zealand’s reduced exports of meat at the beginning of 1935 compared with last year. ' Mr. Coates drew the attention of Mr. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, to a greater increase in British exports to the \ Dominions than foreign countries, and asked if it was too much to hope that preferential development Of trade within the Empire would be considered. y SECOND PLACE ASKED SPEECH OF MR. FORBES (Supplied and Released by N.Z. Govt.) Rec. 12 p.m. London, June 4. . Mr. G. W. Forbes was the guest of honour at a welcome home given to Lord Bledisloe by the Gloucester Chamber of Agriculture. Replying to the toast of the Empire overseas, Mr. Forbes said that New Zealand recognised that the United Kingdom producer had the prior right to his home market, but he considered the Dominions should have a second preference. He added that Lord Bledisloe during his term of' office in the Dopiinion had won the respect and affection of the people and there was.no doubt that Lord Bledisloe had done distinguished work on behalf of the British Empire.