EMPIRE MEATS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 253, 17 June 1932, Page 3

EMPIRE MEATS

MINISTER EXPRESSES HOPE FOR UNITED POLICY. SUPPLIES FOR BRITAIN. A statement that the different meat interests of the British Empire and of Britain itself had agreed upon a eommon poliey for submission to the Ottawa Conference was made in Christchurch by Mr. D. Jones, chair-* man of the Meat Producers' Board. The discussions had lasted some months, said Mr. Jones. He considered that there was every prospect that the conference would result in an agreement on the question of Empire meat. As New Zealand's exports of meat and wool represented half its total exports, New Zealand farmers would be vitally interested in the decisions of the conference, said Mr. Jones. "My board," he continued, "has been actively engaged for some months in endeavouring to bring together the various parts of the Empire produeing meat for export and has now secured a united policy for the Empire, including the British farmers. "It is unlikely that Britain will increase her home supplies of mutton, lamh and beef. Her sheep stocks have been barely maintained in recent years, while for some time her cattle stocks have been almost stationary. The wheat quota will give the British farmer a guaranteed price for increased quantities of home-grown wheat and this increase of the area under the plough will tend toward a reduction of meat production. "The reverse is the case as far as the Empire is concerned. The total from all sources of mutton and lamb arrjving in Britain in 1928 was 15,253,648 carcases. New Zealand and Australia alone will probahly supply this year more mutton and lamh than Britain imported from all sources in 1928. As Britain is the only market that really counts, we must endeavonr to make such arrangements as will ensure a market for our own rapidly-expanding production." Although meat is still admitted into Great Britain free of duty, the British Cabinet has lately been given authority to remove any commodity from the free list withont consulting Parliament. The meat exporting countries of the Empire have evidently some hope that this authority may be used to their advantage.