FOOD SUPPLIES FOR BRITAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19750, 17 March 1934, Page 17

FOOD SUPPLIES FOR BRITAIN

CABINET MINISTER’S STATEMENT PRODUCERS GRAVELY HAMPERED British Official Wireless RUGBY, March 15. The Minister of Agriculture, Rt. Hon. W. E. Elliot, replying in the House of Commons to a question, said he was aware that despite the restrictions imposed, there had been practically no increase in the wholesale price of beef. With regard to the immediate future, the reduction of imports of frozen meat in the coming quarter would be increased to 35 per cent. He hoped to arrange to have a larger reduction in foreign chilled beef than in the same quarter of 1933. The question of the number of fat cattle permitted from the Irish Free State was under consideration. The present low level of prices was partly due to the heavy rate of marketing from home sources. The situation would be examined in the light of the report of the fat stock commission, which he expected shortly. PLEA FOR EMPIRE POLICY. STERLING APPEAL BY SIR JAMES PARR. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 15. Support for the idea propounded by the Australian High Commissioner, Mr S. M. Bruce, of an Imperial Committee, was expressed by Sir James Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, at the Wool Research Association’s lunch at Bradford. He urged that when the Ottawa Agreement expired a survey of the situation should be made to try to dovetail the various interests to give a decent living to all the Empire producers. He thought it inevitable to have a permanent trade committee in London continuously watching their interests. If the New Zealand farmer could not live on to-day’s prices; the British farmer came first but the Dominion farmer should not be asked to run a dead heat with foreigners. Sir James Parr has arranged to maintain close contact with the New Zealand Boards. To keep producers to the forefront, there should be an Empire pool of resources and they should advertise wool. New Zealand was prepared to pay a levy of 2d a bale for this purpose. There should be more co-operation between producers, manufacturers and distributors of wool to meet common enemies.