MEAT PRODUCERS SUFFER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 657, 8 May 1929, Page 9

MEAT PRODUCERS SUFFER

AUCKLAND OPINIONS NOT NEW FOR DAIRYMEN When the clauses of the new Tariff Bill were examined this morning by Auckland exporters and commercial executives it was conceded generally that the most serious protective increase imposed by the United States is that on meat. Though the butter duty is High it has been in force for about three years, and apparently is now merely given constitutional form. ‘TTHE increase in the meat duty is what we have been expecting,” said a prominent exporter this mornign. “One of Hoover’s big platform planks was protection, and he has had the heavy support of American packers. “The new duty of 9 cents a pound is a stiff hurdle for New Zealand exporters, as the increase puts British parity on a higher level than that of America. “Exporters have been hurrying to get supplies away, but because of the legislation pending they have L*een shipping on optional bills, which means that the shipments may, if necessary, be redirected to London. FUTURE HARDSHIP “New' Zealand must face a big decrease in the quantities of meat for export to the United States. The affect will not be so serious at present for there is a shortage of beef throughout the country, but when supplies become more plentiful there will be considerable hardship to Dominion producers. “This may be severe in the near future, for the past season has been a good one, and farmers have been stocking up.” New Zealand’s meat trade has grown to important dimensions during the past two or three years because of the acute shortage of beef throughout the United States. The present duty is: Beef, 3 cents a pound: veal, 3 cents; mutton. cents; lamb, 4 cents. BUTTER EXPORTS “Evidently the butter tariff in the United States has been operated on the Australian system in that the amount of protection has been fixed without the necessity of passing an Act.” a butter exporter told The Sun. “We have been paying a duty of 12 cents a pound for about three years and it is now being formally fixed. “It is a very heavy duty for New Zealand producers to contend with, but America buys from us only when there is a shortage. Importers there take a little of our choicest products in the middle of winter from December to January.” The previous duty rate on butter was S cents a pound. LITTLE WOOL BOUGHT Asked if the increased tariff on wool in the United States would have any affect on the operation of American bu3'ers in New Zealand, Mr. E M. Edgar, secretary of the Auckland Wool Brokers’ Association, said that the tariff had affected American buyers in Australia, but it had not been felt in New Zealand, because the Dominion did not need to depend on American buyers during the past season. He thought that the same effect as had been noticed in Australia might be felt in New Zealand next season.