THE MEAT QUESTION

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19566, 3 May 1935, Page 5

THE MEAT QUESTION

LEVY OR RESTRICTION?

LONDON PRESS OPINION.

AN AGREEMENT POSSIBLE

United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright.

LONDON, May 2

The..’Times publishes a lengthy review of the meat., question. It observes that an extension of the subsidy to British' farmers, would not be well received by the taxpayers and concludes that some combination between the levy system and restriction is inevitable; The levy system should be confined to beef exports. it was generally supposed, continues the’ paper, that very substantial preference would be offered to Dornlriion supplies. The only other requirement would be that the total proceeds should not amount to so much less than the present subsidy of £6,000,000 a year that the British taxpayer would have Mill to find ai large sum. This wduld mean a levy based on a definite allocation to the meat-produc-ing countries, an allocation which should not exclude a supply of chilled beef, it Could only take the form of imports of equal volume to last year’s, with pr'oVislon for a small percentage increase ever- a subsequent period Cf yeftrs. If the reduction of foreign supplies were rathef greater than the increase in Dominion supplies there would be the required margin for expansion of British production. The danger of exporters exceeding the allocation, Says the Times, would be met by Charging all excess imports with a levy so riiilcii higher than the normal rate as to.be prohibitive.. ■ , This is the broad outline of a scheme which must have occurred to the present negotiators. No. doubt’ the filling in of definite figures offers plenty of ground for argument, but. given goodwill there need be no failure to reach an agreement.

COMBINATION OF PRINCIPLES.

LEVY MAY START NOVEMBER

United Press Assn.—-Elec. Tel. copyright. (Received May 3; 10.-35 a.m.) '• LONDON, May 2;

The Australian Press Assooiatidn understands that the Times leader, referring to the eventual combination of the principles of a levy and restriction, represents the fundamentals of the British Government’s plan during the meat negotiations, though a levy Is unlikely to be applicable before November, 1936. '