MEAT RESTRICTION

Wairarapa Daily Times, 20 July 1934, Page 5

MEAT RESTRICTION

AUSTRALIAN PROTEST BRITAIN GIVES WAY. Press Association B'ectric Telegraph—Copyright, CANBERRA, Thursday. Addressing a conference of State Ministers of Agriculture and the Federal Meat Advisory Committee to-day, Mr Stewart, Minister of Trade and Commerce, gave the text of a stronglyworded recent cablegram to the British Government, pointing out that if the meat restriction proposals were persisted with, Australia Avould be unable to make any tariff concessions on British goods in the forthcoming Budget. The cablegram asserted that the effect of the meat restrictions would be so serious to the economic life of Australia in jeopardising the stability of its primary industries that the Government would be unable to continue the process of reducing the tariff on British goods. It was also emphasised that to restrict meat imports from Australia before the main Ottawa Agreement expired in August, 1937, would be a violation of the spirit of the agreement, although technically Britain had the right to impose restrictions after 30th June this year. Mr Stewart added that, following on the Commonwealth representations, the British Government had withdrawn for two years all its restriction proposals, and only minor questions now remained for settlement. Mr Stewart’s statement was loudly applauded, and the Government’s attitude was warmly approved. Mr J. A. Lyons, Prime Minister, accordingly will announce a scries of important reductions of duty on British goods. The Government is taking advantage of the presence of those attending the conference to create an executive committee which will maintain continuous touch with the Department of Commerce, and be in a position to advise when prompt decisions affecting the meat industry are required.