NEW LIMIT FOR BEEF

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 179, 16 August 1937, Page 3

NEW LIMIT FOR BEEF

Additional Three Years' Freedom from Levy "New Zealand is to send 56,200 tons of beef of- all types to the United Kingdom in the yea-r 19.17," said Mr Nash. "This is the result of the negotiations. This aniount will be our peak, the highest we have ever sent to the United Kingdom in any one year. On my arrival in England the prospect was t.he 1935 figure of 45,800 tons." "The amount of 56,200 tons represerjts a 25 per eent increase on what was in prospect. 'It will mean that for ihe first time for some years New Zealand will not have to restrict her beef exports to the United Kingdom. Furthcrmore for 1938 and 1939- there is every possibility that New Zealand's allocation will be increased. This oi course depends to some extent on economie circumstances in the United Kingdom. "When I first assumed the marketing portfolio New Zealand was almost committed to a situation where there would have been a levy on all New Zealand beef entering the United Kingilom. For last year freedom from this levy was secured, and I am happy to announce that' we liave secured freedom from a levy for the period of the beef agreement which is for three years certain." Direct Negotiations At the time of the Government's assuming office, continued Air Nash, arrangements had been in train to set up an international meat conference to advise Governments on tlie general meat supply position and to recommehd the amounts of meat which should be allowed from the individual countries into the United Kingdom market. This arrangement cut right across tlie New Zealand Government's trade policy and eliminated 27 per cent of exports from any basis of bargaining. In particular it gave mutton and lamb — our most important meat export — over to an international body to deal with. New Zealand prefers to negotiate dircctly with the United Kingdom. Accordiiigjy the United Kingdom were advised that New Zealand could >not agree t.(j the idea of an international meat. conference. . Conference on Beef Oniy Finally New Zealand agreed to a conference which would deal with beef only. In .addition there is to be ari Empire Council which is to be an investigatory. or advisory body. The beef conference does not represent merely the projected meat conference with limited scope; there are new principles ineorporated. One of the most important of these is" that the aim shall be "maximum availability of supplies to consumers. " Also there is definite allowance made for the expansion of Empire supplies to the United Kingdom market. I11 addition New Zealand gets the right to swing over into chilled beef, that is New Zealand inay replace as much fxozen beef as she likes with chilled beef. This should be of great assistance to the beef industry. In connection with the beef conference New Zealand's position is safeguardod,' nor are her rights to take beef into account in any general trade agreement jeopardised. "I feel that the beef agreement is highly satisfactory to New Zealand," said the Alinister,