NEW MEAT AGREEMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 244, 15 October 1936, Page 8

NEW MEAT AGREEMENT

HON. W. NASH S MISSION “ALREADY ARRANGED” ONLY NEEDS SIGNATURE LPer Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 13. The statement that one of the first I activities of the Minister of Marketing on his mission to England will be the conclusion of a new meat agreement was the subject of comment by the Hon. J. G. Coates, who as Minister of Finance in the last Government, was responsible with the then Prime Minister (the Hon. G. VV. Forbes) for negotiating earlier agreements with the British Government regarding the export of primary products from the Dominion. “The suggestion is that the Hon. Mr. Nash will conclude a new agreement covering New Zealand meat exports shortly after his arrival in England,” Mr. Coates said. “In my opinion he will sign an agreement that has been already arranged for him, an agreement, moreover, which could probably have been settled by the exchange of cables weeks ago. If it is his intention tr announce an agreement from London as an augury for the success of his mission that will represent a piece of window-dressing that cannot be justified. I am prepared to hazard the opinion that the agreement has already been reached. An Australian delegation visited London this year to discuss the position of the British meat market. I understand that the then High Commissioner, Sir James Parr, together with Mr. J. Begg and Mr. R. S. Forsyth, of the Meat Board, represented New Zealand. From a statement made by the British Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Walter Elliot, in the House of Commons on July 6, it is clear that the discussions this year have brought to finality the proposals advanced in the negotiations in London last year.” MINISTER’S REPLY MR. COATES INCORRECT [Per Press Association J WELLINGTON, Oct. 14. The Minister of Marketing, Hon. Lee Marlin, to-day issued the following reply to the statement with reference to meat exports to Britain made by Hon. J. G. Coates:— “It is unfortunate that Mr. Coates did not choose a more fitting time and phrasing for his statement on the important subject of marketing,” said Mr. Lee Martin. “What practically amounts to suggestions of possible deliberate misrepresentation and bad faith on the part of Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, would have come with better grace if they had been made before the Minister had left the Dominion and was still on the spot. To refute personally the foolish insinuations for which Mr. Coates made himself personally responsible, the spirit of peevish pettiness which pervades Mr. Coates’ statement and the unworthy suspicions he endeavours to arouse are particularly to be deplored and do an injustice to himself at least as much as to Mr. Nash. As a matter of fact, his remarks as reported, are very wide of the mark and only indicate that he is completely out of touch with the present position in connection with meat agreements with Britain. The opinion of Mr. Coates that the agreement already has been reached and merely awaits the signature of Mr. Nash, is quite incorrect. It is perfectly true that a long-term agreement has been suggested by the British Government for our approval, but certain of the principles involved are not acceptable to New Zealand, and further consideration of these important proposals has been deferred by the British Government pending the arrival of Mr. Nash in Britain. Just to show that the suggestion of a cut and dried agreement is contrary to fact, it may be pointed out that for mutton and lamb, New Zealand’s most important meat export, no discussions of any kind have as yet taken place with regard to the programme of mutton and lamb landings after the present agreement, which expires on December 3 of this year. Mr. Coates should be well aware of this as he himself was concerned in the negotiations of this agreement. At the end of September this year, the British Government suggested an early discussion on New Zealand and Australian lamb and mutton quotas for 1937, and this naturally will be one of the first matters to engage the attention of Mr. Nash. Mr. Coates also indicates that, from the statement made by Mr. Walter Elliott in the House of Commons on July 6, it is clear that the discussions this year have brought to a finality the proposals advanced in the negotiations in London last year.’ Whilst it is true that the statement referred to does indicate in broad outline the British Government's permanent proposals for safeguarding the British live-stock industry, it is not correct to say that the proposals have reached finality. In Mr. Elliott’s statement it was set out that further proposals as to market regulation, which mainly affect exporting countries, are under .discussion with the Governments nf the countries concerned. It is these important proposals as far as they affect. New Zealand, and including th* establishment and functions of the Empire Meat Council, which will form the basis of the discussions before anv definite agreement is reached.”