MEAT PRICES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1932, Page 8

MEAT PRICES

BRITISH FREE TRADE

AUSTRALIAN PRODUCT!ON

ASSAILED

LONDON, May 6

‘‘Beef at a shilling a mouthful,'’ is the battle-cry that has been adopted by free trade interests as a basis lor their isudden propaganda war against the meat .scheme under which Dominions will benefit. They have .stigmatised the scheme as the “giv.u dear meat ramp.”

They deliberately issued a d> - meat marked • &‘pi‘iwate/ and confidential’’ to free tradeTpapers a day ahead of the remainder of the Press, and thus secured a flying start for antiDominion propaganda. There ha: never been such a burst of free tradindignation. The free trade “Star” rushed reporters to •Sinithfied, where they were anonymously told that it was practically impossible for Australia to fatten a bullock in less than five years, and even then it was uneatable. It was also emphasised that all Australian beef might be sold with foreign in special shops, necessitating increased marketing costs, and, moreover, that Argentine chilled meat alone compared with British, and if Argentine supplies were stopped prices would soar terrifically.

The “'Star” sneevingly asserts that the Dominions are scared to death at. the prospect of Argentine mutton am lamb wiping them off the market, and adds ; “The British organised meat trade will fight the scheme to the last ditch.”

Proposals for comprehensive scheme for marketing Empire meat will he submitted for the Government’s consideration in connection with the Ottawa Conference. Australian graziers’ associations, the New Zealand Meat Board, the British Empire Producers’ Organisation, and the British Farmers’ Union are understood to be behind the scheme.