IS BULK PURCHASE BEST FOOD BUYING METHOD FOR BRITAIN?

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 December 1950, Page 6

IS BULK PURCHASE BEST FOOD BUYING METHOD FOR BRITAIN?

LONDON, Dec. 19 (Recd. 11pm).— “The Times,’’ summing up the position of Britain’s meat negotiations with Argentina, says the question most forcibly raised by the dispute is whether Government bulk purchase is a satisfactory means of handling trade dealings of such a nature. “Tire British Government’s decision to reduce the meat ration drastically because it is unwilling to pay more for Argentine beef, means a regrettable lowering of the country's standard of living,’’ says the paper. “Sacrifices are also imposed on the people of Argentina by their Government. Just as there is no alternative supplier to whom Britain can turn, there is no alternative market large enough to absorb the major part of Argentina’s output, “Argentina is probably better fitted to produce large supplies of beef than any other country. Beef from New Zealand and Australia has been cheaper than that from Argentina in the past few years, but combined supplies for the nine months o f 1950 from taese two countries were lower than in the same months of 1948.” Discussing the advisability of returning to private buying, “The Times” adds: “Britain cannot afford to pay dearly for food and private dealers would be as wq". fvvare of this as the Ministry of Fooa. But a multiplicity of buyers would allow for tentative buying on a small scale which commonly paves the way to larger dealing. Private purchase would be quite compatible with continuance of rationing and subsidies. “But the question is not for one country alone,” says “The Times” “Private purchase flourished in the past in association with private selling. Whether private buyers would wish to deal with the Government in Argentina is uncertain and so are the prospects of restoring private selling in the Argentine. The present impasse shows that both countries stand to gain by a better method of conducting their business dealings.” Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent.