MEAT CONTROVERSY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1932, Page 5

MEAT CONTROVERSY

DOMINIONS’ CASE

DISCUSSIONS AT OTTAWA.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) ; OTTAWA, August 14. An armistice, was declared to-day (Sunday) .irf the meat battle, only the respective officials meeting in the evening. Mr Bruce played another round of golf, and lunched at the golf house, while Mr Coates played tennis. Both returned to the Chateau, early in the afternoon for the purpose of reviewing the position wi.th their -advisers, in readiness for a resumption of the negotiations to-morrow. It was, argued on the British side that any meat quota might eventually, if not immediately, have the effect of restricting Britain’s total imports, causing consternation, if the Dominion supplies unexpectedly dropped and meat prices rose. It tvas further argued that the British working man was accustomed to a l*ise or fall of a farthing .of halfpenny in the pfiee bf bread, but Wbuld bfecoine volubly annoyed if be. suspected that the meat market was likewise being tampered with to bis as meat is a more important article; to a working household even than bread, The Dominions replied &hat the amount of meat , regularly reaching Britain is considerably above normal consumption, therefore there were large stocks continually in cold store and fair prices were not received. A small restriction on the import of Argentine chilled beef would hardly be perceptible in reducing the saturation of the market, but coupled with a modest duty would give a measure of assistance to the New Zealand and Australian producers, vffiich might well make the difference between salvation and complete ruin. Moreover, the Dominions are prepared to regard the arrangement as temporary. It might be reviewed when the general rise occurs alii round. They declare that the quota is now imperatively necessary. Many forms of quotas have been discussed in the past few days, hut the Dominions would be content with a simple quantitative restriction on Argentine beef and Danish bacon, allowing every other source to supply freely.

ATTITUDE OF THE DOMINIONS.

QUOTA ONLY THE LAST RESORT.

OTTAWA, August 14. Meat hate iloW ifesug fit tbe iCconOmicyfcfeiifefence, so far "as Australia ahd : jfbw JZealand ;> Arts cbnMftied. /sjv eS It is believed that-these two dekgatiotu would accept » quota only aa a last resort, If - they cannot get both a duty wad a quota, Tho Australian and New Zealand delegations finally overhauled the meat position to-night, prior to facing a crucial discussion to-morrow. It is understood that their attitude will be firmly maintained, except that they will not actually refuse an offer of British duties alone if a quota is refused them i but the delegates in that event will return home bitterly dis-

appointed. •}. Asked 'whether a. half loaf is not better than no bread, one delegate replied: “But isn’t the quota a whole loaf?”

Moreover, although Mr Bruce and Mr Coates are ’solidly united in taking the view that beef, mutton and lamb together are one inseparable problem, they would not refuse . a mutton and lamb .preference, if they were refused any on, beef. The delegations, however, / are not visualising complete reft sals, nor are they seeking to prepare the Australian and New Zealand public for bad news. Another argument put forward to emphasise the futility of preferences alone without a quantitive British restriction on foreign meat imports is that Brazil, with her vast territories, may shortly develop the cattle industry, thus becoming a serious factor in the beef export market. Thus the Argentine and Brazil, combined, could export almost limitless quantities of beef. Therefore, Australia explained to the British delegates that she does not particularly want a duty against chilled beef, her delegates regarding a quota, however small, as against the Argentine beef and against other frozen beef, alone, would be disastrous, because it would result in the Argentine sending still more childed beef, thereby making it impossible for the' Australian frozen meat to compete at all.