DEAR MEAT RAMP

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 239, 30 May 1932, Page 8

DEAR MEAT RAMP

^|I9" "• "*'• FREE TRADERS OPPOSE PREFERENCE TO DOMINIONS. "SHILLING A MOUTHFUL." ' "Beef at a shilling a mouthful," i's the battle-cry that has been adopted by free trade interests as a basis for their sudden propaganda war against the meat scheme under which the Dominions will benefit. They have stigmatised the scheme as the "great dear meat ramp." They deliberately issued a document marked "private and eonfidential" to free trade papers a day ahead of the remainder of the Press, and thus secured a flying start for antiDominion propaganda. There has never been sueh a burst of free trade indignation. The free trade "Star" rushed reporters to Smithfield, 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 Ans-

tralian 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" sneeringly asserts that the Dominions are scared to death at the prospects of - Argentine mutton and lamb wiping them off the market, and adds: "The British organised meat trade will fight the scheme to the last ditch." Proposals for a comprehensive scheme for marketing Empire meat will be 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.