Meat for Britain

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19458, 24 December 1934, Page 7

Meat for Britain

QUOTA PROPOSALS. AUSTRALIA’S OPPOSITION. MR BRUCE’S ATTITUDE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON, Dec! 22The Daily Herald gives prominence to a report tjiat, Mr S. M. Bruce, High Commissioner for Australia, sent an ultimatum to his Government which may involve his own resignation in consequence of his disapproval of its oppostion lo the British meat restriction proposals. Mr Bruce told l his Government It must either accept the plan or take the consequences. Tiie Herald states that Mr Bruce and the representatives of the other Dominions approved the plan of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Walter Elliot, to levy a tariff on all meat imports into Britain. It is understood that Mr Elliot convinced Mr Bruce of the soundness of Australia accepting a temporary scheme on the following grounds:— (1) That prices will improve and the producers will get a large- payment for less meat. (2) That on the conclusion of the Argentine agreement the British Government will have a free hand and under- its long-term policy may levy one penny a lb on foreign meat and the halfpenny a ib on Dominion meat. (3) That a larger market would be fc" nd for Dominion chilled beef at the expense of foreign supplies. When Mr Bruce was seen after lhe discussions on December IS, he was obviously seriously perturbed. lie kept lii-s confidential staff on late duly to send a detailed report, to his Government. but gavfe no hint as to how Hie outcome might affect his personal position. His departure for the

Riviera was in accordant with his usual cuslom of spending a Holiday abroad at Christmas.

It is officially stated at Australia House that any report to the effect that Mr Bruce sent any message to the Common weal th Government on the meat or any other questi )i in the nature. of an ultimatum or--threat of -' resignation is tolally unfounded.

This statement was issued after the Daily Herald’s statement, which occupied almost half the front page of the issue;

LATER. MR BRUCE’B POSITION. THREAT TO RESIGN DENIED. CABLEGRAMS TO PRIME MINISTER. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright; (Received Dec. 24, 11.15 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 24. The reports in London that Mr S. M. Bruce (High Gommis'sioner for Australia), has threatened to tender his resignation owing to the Australian Government’s attitude regarding meat restriction are denied by Sir Henry Gulleitt, Minister in Charge of Trade Treaties. It is known, however, that the Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, has received cablegrams from Mr Bruce expressing the strongest disinclination to convey Australia’s continued objections to the British (proposals. FARMERS’ ATTITUDE. GOVERNMENT CRITICISED-. “ENCOURAGED A QUOTA.” The following resolution dealing with the meat quota was unanimously passed at the meeting of the Auckland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union last week: “This union deplores the weak acquiescence of our Government in not only accepting, but appearing -to encourage, a meat quota, and applauds the determination of Australia to fix the responsibility for the imposition of a quota in the right quarter, that Is, upon the British Government.” In the ensuing discussion it. was pointed out that the statement in the press relative to Australia’s refusal to acquiesce in the quota confirmed Lord Beaverhrook’s contention (hat the responsibility for the imposition of quotas on the Dominion’s exports resled primarily on the shoulders of the Dominion politicians. The fact that the restrictions upon the exnort of bobby calves from New Zealand had resulted in Australian producers being able to export bobby calves to the detriment of the hardpressed dairy farmers of New Zealand who had pioneered lhe industry, aroused strong comment amongst members of the executive.. The course that affairs had taken awakened misgiving as to the ability of the Government effectively to protect the interests of the New Zealand producers in future negotiations.