MEAT IN BRITAIN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 375, 9 November 1932, Page 5

MEAT IN BRITAIN

(Press. Assn.-

MINISTER ANNOUNCES STEPS TO MEET SERIOUS POSITION REDUCING SUPPLIES

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

Rec. Nov. 8, 7.0 p.m. London, November 8. In the House of Commons, the Minister of Agructure, Major W. E. EJIiot said the fundamental question of meat and live stock could not be tackled until it had been reviewed' by the Empire as the expansion of the Dominions' supplies was very considerable. The Government recognised now the emergency of the position, and had made up its mind to solve the difficulty with which the country was faced. Following iipon a meeting with the chairman of the Board of Trade. (Mr. W. Runciman) and himself, the Argentine exporters were prepared to put into effeet at ohce a cut of 20 per cent in supplies of mutton and lamb, in addition to immediate reductions of ten per cent in ehilled beef. The importers hoped later to increase the production of beef by 20 per cent. Negotiations were in progress with Scandinavian countries to secure an immediate reduction in hacon and* ham imports to Great Britain by 20 per cent. Consultations had also taken place with representatives of Australia and New Zealand, who had intimated that they were prepared to co-operate in bringing about reductions of the Dominions' supplies. The British Government had reason to believe that a" reduction of ten per cent in Australian and New Zealand supplies of muttoii and lamb in the coming month would be available. Serious Position Major Elliot explained that to go to the Dominions and say "we are putting a tariff upon them" seemed to conflict with all the principles they were seeking to establish at Ottawa. The present problem of restriction of supplies was very serious. Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia, were all sources with which Great Britain desired to negotiate trade agreements,' and in all cases it was urgent that they should carry these great customers along.with them .The Government was most anxious that no steps should be taken in a liarsh and careless spirit. D ealing with the present emergency, Major Elliot said the Government had taken the view that arrangements afrecting a trade like meat, could be better carried through voluntarily hy business men conversant with the trade, than by a Government department equipped with arbitrary powers. With regard to ehilled beef, Argentine importers had explained their physical impossibility to reduce supplies during November and December 20 per cent as four weeks supplies were already afloat, and cattle for the fifth week had been killed. On the question of curtailing marketing from British cold stores, representatives of the Dominions' Government expressed willingness to cooperate in finding practicable methods of securing the object in view. The position in regard to the Dominions required the utmost care in handling, and in that they had the assistance of Mr. W. Runciman, who had conferred with representatives of the Australian and New Zealand Governments, with the result that the British Government had reason to behave that there would be ari immediate reduction of ten per cent. compared with the corresponding period of 1931 .