MEAT IMPORTS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21415, 6 March 1935, Page 6

MEAT IMPORTS

LONG-TERM POLICY "GIVE AND TAKE" (?ROM OUU OWN COttRKSI'ONDEST.) LONDON, February 16. OlTicial discussions on the subject of meat subsidies and restrictions have been carried on secretly, and any statement other than official announcements may be taken as merely partially inspired, if inspired at ail. This week a meeting was held between United Kingdom Ministers and High Commissioners and other represenlaf ives of tho Dominions and South- i em Rhodesia, and a further discussion regarding long-term, policy in relation to meat took place. The position at present is that the voluntary restnction scheme now in operation comet to an end on March 31. It is not possible to obtain the consent of all the parlies interested to a permanent scheme before that date, so the subsidy on home-killed meat is being continued until June 30 A short-term scheme was arranged for the period April-June, and this is being considered bv the Dominion Governments. It is understood that New Zealand should, in the circumstances, find little cause for complaint in the suggestions for tho April-June period. An official announcement regarding the meeting this week was issued. In this it was reworted:— "The Government's long-term policy was under examination for about two hours. United Kingdom Ministers arc anxious that the proposals should not be considered merely as a plan for tho assistance of the home livestock industry as they believe that their policy will benefit the Empire as a whole. The Government considers, that the situation can best be met -by a irvv on all imported meat from all countries of about Id per lb. with a preference of -'.d per lb for meat from the Dominions." This levy might have to be accompanied by more drastic restrictions. and it was urged that the scheme might be re-examined in the light of actual experience after it had been in operation for 18 months. "The High Commissioners will now communicate with their respective Governments before a further meeting is held." It is understood thai a great deal of. "round was covered during the two hours. Doubtless, the New Zealand point of 'view was put forward, and inspired the alternative suggest ion mentioned in the official statement. The"" appears to be no reason, from the New 'Zealand point of view, why a lew should be placed on lamb and mutton, as English lamb and mutton are commanding satisfactory prices This, then, seems to be the hope of New Zealand—that the Government here will consent to deal with meat imports in sections, beef on the one Irmd and lamb and mutton on the other. Since it is the trade in homekilled beef that is the trouble it ap-.j pears logical that the levy should be mainly on imported beef. or. in other words, the heaviest penalty should fall j jii the foreign producers. The other point of view—and doubtless one not readily abandoned by the British Government—is that impositions on all classes of imported meat, and not on beef alone, are likely to have a good effect on the marketing of Home-killed beef. Mr Lyons, Prime Minister ol Australia. with other Ministers and with expert advisers, is advancing on London. Before his departure from Aus- j tralia he addressed his own country-1 men, saving that any attempt to curtail Australian exports to Great Britain must be resisted strenuously. "The Times," in a leading article, say.; Ihat the points Mr Lyons has made in his speeches "demand, and will receive, the most careful consideration, just as he will be careful to consider the claims of British manufacturers to a freer entry into the Australian market. There must be give and take on both sides, and British farmers and Australian manufacturers have also their claims to consideration." This is very tactfully put, and there is authority for believing it is the attitude which will be taken up by the British Government in negotiations, not only with Australia, but with other

Dominions. In effect. the British Government will face Mr Lyons and his party with these questions: "How much is Australia prepared to buy from Great Britain? How fa'' are vou prepared to lower your tariffs?" On their answers to those questions will depend the nature of the trade As for New Zealand, in .spite of her lnyrl'y and goodwill towards the Mother Country, it will probably not be forgotten that the lotal value of exports to the United Kingdom for the 11 months ended November, 1934. was £ (N.Z.) 36,410.237. while the total value of imports from the United Kingdom over the same neriod wa« £ <stg.> 11.490.349.