MEAT AGREEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1932, Page 5

MEAT AGREEMENT

DUTIES REJECTED . . •• At ARRANGEMENTS AT OTTAWA, ...

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.)

OTTAWA, Aug. 20. Britain ha s concluded the following arrangements with Australia and New Zealand:— ...

Meat:—Britain will immediately enforce a qualitative restriction on Argentine chilled beef, by decree rthaa Argentine imports into Britain for the year ending June, 1933, shall not, exceed those for the year ending v June last. This was the smallest recent year for the Argentine chilled beef, being, five per cent lower than 1931,. .. The . agreement also embodies restrictions on the import of mutton and lamb, allotting the Dominions’ proportions of Britain’s estimated consumption. The details will not be discussed until submitted to the British Parliament, for fear of causing an upset in trade.

The Dominion proposals fur meat duties were Wholly rejected,. Dairy Produce: —Followihg are, the preferences for dairy produce tittdef the agreements between Britain, Australia and N.Z.: Butter, a tariff preference of 15s per hundredweight) cheese, 15 per cent) condensed milk, sweetened 5s per cwt, plus a sugar duty; condensed milk, unsweetened, Cs per cwt, honey 7s per cwt; eggs n shell per long hundred, under 14lbs, Is, between 14 and 171bs, Is- 6d, over 17 lbs, Is 9d per ounce; egg pulp, ted’ per cent.

Fruit:—The only agreement regarding fruit is a preference of 4s fid p'6r cwt. on apples and pears.

The Domniion proposal for a “‘close season ” on the London '' mai’ket against foreign trust was rejected. •

Additional preferences ■ 'on ; wines were granted, but there is no change in the terms , for either sii'gar dr tobacco. ’ ' ! ’‘' c ’

The Australian agreement contains an important meat declaration by Britain, stating:—“The present wholesale prices of frozen meat have resulted ; ini great depression in British Dominionlive stock industries.-''This depressionJ if continued, is likely to cause a serious decline in production, .ultimately injuring the consumer: The.; position is so serious that it is essential, to raise the wholesale prices/ 1 of. frozen meat to a level ensuring efficient production. Britain will/during the currency of the: Ottawa*; agreement, arrange for a regulation of meat importations, such regulation- to bfr- applied to chilled , beef,.. frp'zen beef, ■ myV;; toh, lamb, bacon and! hams. Tho British policy in relation, to meat production is, firstly, to secure the develop.meat of hot* I own ; home, production; secondly) to give the Dominions. an expanding share of the import* into Britain, \ • ■ ■

DECISION BY BRITAIN- •; IF AGREEMENT NOT PERMANENT . (Received tLis day at 8 a.rn.) ** OTTAWA, Aug. 21, , Failing an agreement. on a perman- ; ent policy aj» a result of this consul;tation, Britain undertakes, after the, expiry of the period mentioned in the agreed programme and during the rer, mainedr of the currency of the, Ottawa agreement—the period of agreement, is for five years—to arrange fos s i#" continuance, ujnless otherwise agreed between the Governments concerned, of the reguations of foreign meat jm-, ; ports at the ratios in force at the gpd of the period named in the. agreed programme. - In the event of it appearing to the British Government, after inquiry,, that at" any time as the result of the restriction of foreign imports, Britain’s meat supplies are inadequate to meet British consumers’ requirements, the British Government may remove any restriction until supplies are again adequate. New Zealand's meat agreements are identical

MR THOMAS INTERVIEWED

OTTAWA, Aug. 21

Mr Thomas, interviewed before departing. said: “It will probably be urged that the Old Country has given too many concessions, but I,prefer to feel that we are laying the foundations of a great Imperial policy. You must never forget it is to our interests to restore the Dominions! prosperity. The recovery of Australia and. New Zealand is obviously to our advantage. It has been a strenuous, time , for us all, hut the result justifies, it.” ; •

MR COATES SATISFIED

OTTAWA, Aug.. 21

Hon J. G. Coates, interviewed, said the Conference had been, • a success. Definite progress had been made towards restoring prosperity . ■ throughout the Etnnire on an enduring foundation. '.Hie Conference has taken the greatest stop in history towards the goal of Empire recipricai preference. “Looking hack on a month's labours wo may well feel gratified at the achievement.’’ he concluded.