BEEF SUPPLIES

Wairarapa Age, 18 July 1934, Page 5

BEEF SUPPLIES

GREAT BRITAIN’S POLICY OF REGULATION. IMPORTS TO BE LIMITED IF PRICES FALL. STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE. LONDON, July 16. Introducing a financial resolution providing for the payment of a subsidy to cattle producers, Mr. Walter Elliot, Minister of Agriculture, stated in the House of Commons that unless steps were taken to maintain the livestock industry a considerable section of the country would go out of cultivation. The Doniinions as a result of the Ottawa Agreements had gained an expanding share of the beef market. The Dominions’ share was 66 per cent, as compared with 63 per cent, before the Ottawa Agreements were made. The Home producer supplied 584,000 tons in 1930, compared with 536,000 in 1932. The demand for beef in Britain had declined from 691 b. per capita in 1927 to 60.71 b. in 1932. During the interregnum the Government proposed to regulate imports either by arrangement or by order to put a bottom to the market. He might be asked, if the price level still falls, was it proposed further to limit Dominion and foreign imports. Some measure of regulation would have to be undertaken. “No one denied our power to alter the supply position almost to any extent we wished, but we were unwilling to contemplate it if an alternative could be found,” said Mr. Elliot. “There are already indications that certain countries might be willing to accept an alternative.” The resolution was adopted by 215 votes to 42.