BRITAIN’S MEAT POLICY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 203, 28 July 1937, Page 11

BRITAIN’S MEAT POLICY.

RELATION TO DOMINION,

ARGENTINA'S SHARE

Following the resolution passed by the delegates attending the Inst annual meeting of the board, tilt chairman and general manager of the board accompanied Hon. Walter Nash on his m.ssioii to London, and, along with the board’s London manager, were, closely associated with the Minister of Finance in the discussions with the British Ministers and officials, states the annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. As recently announced bv the Government, an agreement has iieen concluded with the United Kingdom Government by which the total allocation of imports Cf New Zealand mutton and lamb for the calendar year 1937 has been fixed at 4,olooobcivt. This allocation must be considered as very satisfactory. The agreement, first of all, provided for a basic’ allocation' of 3.900,000 cwt. This was substantially in advance of the actual imports from New Zealand for the year 1936, which were 3.530,700 cwt. Provision had also been made in the agreement for a 'reduction' of. 34 per cent, in the basic allocation if prices of United Kingdom mutton and lamb for the first six months of 1937 fell appreciably below the level of the two previous years. Such a reduction, if it had been made, would still have left the allocation at a figure in excess of last year’s imports. Not only will the reduction not now apply, but. as stated above, the basic allocation has been increased by llO.OOOcwt. bringing the total up to 4,010,000 cwt.. A new treaty between the United Kingdom Government and the Argentine Government was signed in London on December 1, 1936, to come into force after ratification by both Governments. It is provided that the agreement shall remain in force until December 31, 1939, but will continue after that date unless six months’ notice of cancellation is given by either country. The agreement provides that imports of chilled beef may be reduced on the 1935 figures by not more than 2 per cent, in one year and not more than 5 per cent- over the three .year period. Frozen beef quarters and boned beef are maintained on the Ottawa levels, whieh represents a reduction of 35 per cent, on “Ottawa year” quantities. There is also a quota imposed upon the Argentine of 30,000 tons of canned beef which is practically the same as the quota for the year 1936. Mutton and lamb imports are continued at the Ottawa level for 1937, that is, 65 per cent. of “Ottawa vear” figures: hut are to bn reduced a further 10 per cent, for 1938 off the present 65 per cent., which reduces the quantity for 1938 to 581 P er cent, of “Ottawa standard year.” The duty on Argentine meat imported into the United Kingdom is fixed at Jd phr lb. on chilled beef and 2-3 d per lb. on frozen or 6alted beef alia veal whilst boneless beef and veal and beef and veal offals are subject to a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem. Canned meats which were subjected to a duty under the Ottawa Agreement of 10 per cent, are increased to 20 per cent, ad valorem. Tinned tongues fire 30 per cent, ad valorem. Should the duty on chilled beef for six months be 174 per cent, or less ot the value, then the duties on boneless beef and veal, beef and veal offals, and canned meat will be correspondingly reduced during the following six months, the report adds.