MEAT GLUT

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1932, Page 8

MEAT GLUT

CONTROL OF EXPORT

APPEAL TO NEW ZEALAND

SYDNEY, October 27

The glut in meat in England is causing grave concern among Australian exporters especially .is there is no iin- . iireuiate prospect of an improvement in the position. The situation threatens 'to become worse, involving producers in a heavy loss, The other day Mr F. H. Tout, who was one of the Australian delegation to Ottawa, suggested tnat Australia should at once tax© steps to control the export of fro^esn;meat i n the hope that the glut in: the English markets would be relieved, but graziers generally point out that th's would- be a futile step- unless- control wa>; exercised by a»ii the supplying countries. ~i'»e difficulties in the way of securing concerted- action in that direction are fuliy appreciated, but there is a hope in l some quarters- that New Zealand; at least nngnt be inauoea to fall into l.ne. It is held that it would be for the common good if New Zealand could see its way to co-operate with’ Australia. It is plain that AustraHa woulu be' placed at a'- decided di’.advantage if the .Dominion and th© Argentine cont mi-ed to flood the British market with meat. '

~ ..e disadvantage would be even more marked beoaus© the Australian season is thre e months ahead Of that l in ’either x\ew Zealand or the Argentine, 'inns, if Australia alone regulated her .she would lose the seasonable Advantage, and would' hare to meet greater competition when the meat from • the Argentine and New Zealand was marketed. ' The New South 'Avaks Frozen Meat Exporters’ . Association, in a communication to' the Minister foi Commerce, has directed attention to the calamitous prices ruling in Britain on account of the glut. It is considered that- the only way of bringing about an improvement is' to relieve the pressure by; immediately restricting meat shipment's of all kinds from every source To ’ th'at end the Commonwealth Government ha. s been asked to communicate with the Government of New Zealand, and through the British Government with the' Government-:- of South-America, with a view to endeavouring to bring about concerted action.--

The telegram- to the Minister states : frhou'.d be pointed out in the communications that shipments from Australia of lamb and mutton have already been reduced as for the three months ■ Jitly-,' August,* and-September this' year —the total -exported has been only 815,000 compared with 1,597,000 for the same three montns of 1951, a redaction of 41 per cent.; also, that to the effective shipments from all sources for the months of November and December should be reduced by 50 per cent- If '’necessary, the' question of extending ■ the period could be considered later-” The serious view taken of the position i's indicated in a' telegram -sent to the Minister ’by the a Association this week. It stated: “The following telegram hats been received from London;—, ‘SaVs,-. *6feiigibter headway; impossible. New* Zealand.’and -Htone 1 supplies* exceedingly large. Position grave without signs of recovery. Expect to see Australian lamb do w n to 3d ;• ho offersobtainable. Cannot' «e« Ottawa deci)s(ion affecting the situation until the : end of 1933.’ ”