SUBSIDY ON BEEF

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 109, 1 February 1935, Page 11

SUBSIDY ON BEEF

Extension Decided Upon In Britain GIVING BREATHING SPACE By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, January 30. In the House of Commons, the Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Walter Elliot, in answer to a question, said that the discussion with interested Governments of the live stock problem was actively progressing. Recognising the difficulties of the problem facing many Governments, the British Government had decided to continue the subsidies to home producers for three months and for a possible further three months after that. Legislation accordingly would be introduced. Mr. Elliot’s announcement of the extension of the beef subsidy for a further three months does not directly affect the meat negotiations with the Dominions, but represents a further breathing space during which the Government is expected to complete its long-term -import proposals. No indication of these lias yet reached the High Commissioners, nor has any attempt been made to reconvene the disappointing meeting earlier in the month. It is understood that Mr.. Elliot is still contemplating an arrangement whereby the Dominions’ meat shall be subject both to levy and quota, as a levy alone would be insufficient to protect British cattlemen.

Meanwhile, the Dominion representatives, especially the New Zealand spokesmen, emphasise the necessity for ample notice of any proposed further reduction of imports in order to adjust production and killing, a viewpoint in which the shipping interests heartily concur. WOOL PRICE-FIXING Comment By Australian % Vancouver, January 30. At Phoenix. Arizona, Mr. Graham Waddell, chairman of the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council, addressing the United States Woolgrowers’ Convention. deprecated price-fixing and Governmen t regul'll tions. “I believe I can safely say,” lie declared, “that the great majority of Australian sheep men arc unfavourable to price-fixing. They let supply and demand control the market.” .Mr. Waddell instanced the case of Government intervention in the Great Wai* when wool.was sold nt 13 cents, a loss of 9 or 10 cents a pound. Prior to Mr. Waddell’s address the American wool men urged a high protective tariff against I'oreign-produced wool.