MEAT QUOTAS MR OLIVER STANLEY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20733, 17 February 1939, Page 7

MEAT QUOTAS

MR OLIVER STANLEY

IMPOSED BY BRITAIN 10 PER CENT REDUCTION IMPORTS FROM DOMINION (United Pre&s Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 17, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 16 In the House of Commons, the President of the Board of Trade, Mr Oliver Stanley, announced that “In order to safeguard the stability of markets” the imports of frozen mutton and lamb from Australia and New Zealand will be 3 per cent below last year’s imports from foreign countries. They will be 10 per cent less than the present quotas.

Mr Stanley added that the decisioi isulted from the failure of th

Empire Meat Council to agree to the current year’s restriction of imports necessitated by the very low prices last year for Home-produced meat. Increased Home production had not been accompanied by a fall in imports. A further increase in Homeproduced mutton and lamb was expected during the current year yet cold storage stocks were abnormally high. Mr Stanley said the Government had advised Australia and New Zealand as to the extent of the restriction, which might necessitate alterations in shipping space already booked. The Meat Council was continuing to function and would watch the effect of restriction on the market. RESTRICTION MOVE BENEFITS QUESTIONED

DEFENDED BY MR STANLEY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Te!. Copyright) (Received Feb. 17, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 16 In the House of Commons, Mr Tom Williams (Labour —-Don Valley), asked if Mr Oliver Stanley, President of tho Board of Trade, if he were satisfied the restriction of imports would bring about an increase in British mutton and lamb. He pointed out that the restriction of beef from Australia and the Argentine had not helped the prices for Home-produced beef. Mr Stanley replied that the Government believed the restriction of mutton and lamb would benefit the Home producer. Restriction was necessary to prevent the obvious glut. There had been a decline in the prices of Home-produced beef but it would have been more serious if no attempt had been made to regulate imports. Questioned regarding the necessity for large reserves of frozen meat in wartime, Mr Stanley said the Government thought the best reserve was a flourishing sheep and stock industry in Britain. MINISTER’S REGRET COMMENT BY MR NASH

GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATING (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Friday ‘‘l can only say that I regret that there is to be a reduction in the quantities of New Zealand mutton and lamb to be admitted into Britain,” said the Hon. W. Nash, Minister, of Marketing, “when informed of tile British Government’s decision this morning. He added that he was unable to make further comment until he had examined all the facts contained in the cables. In Wellington negotiations between the New Zealand and British Governments had been proceeding since the latter part of last year, stated the Minister and he had been kept fully informed at each stage. Too Early to Forecast Asked whether a surplus of production was likely to be experienced in the Dominior). Mr Nash replied: “It is too early at this stage to forecast the effects of the restriction but if the British market is unable to absorb the whole of the mutton and lamb available for shipment from New Zealand the Government would be able to deal with the position some other wav. “1 think we can adapt ourselves to new circumstances created by u quota,” Mr Nash concluded.