§ 19. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in his negotiations with respect to restrictions on the importation of meat from South American countries, any regard was paid to the fact that meat is the main export of those countries and that the Governments of those countries have certain responsibilities; if so, whether those Governments were taken into consultation; and whether their submissions were accepted or rejected?
§ Dr. BURGINHis Majesty's Government fully appreciate the interests of the meat exporting countries of South America in this matter, which is still under discussion with certain of the Governments concerned.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I ask whether, when the voluntary scheme was entered into, prior to that date, the Government 1410 negotiated in any way with the Governments of the exporting countries?
§ Dr. BURGINThe answer is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMight I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he will reply to the latter part of the question? Were those submissions of the exporting countries accepted or rejected, or was it the case that the whole of the arrangements were made ultimately through the importers of beef, and not through the Governments of the exporting countries?
§ Dr. BURGINThe hon. Gentleman, by his question, refers to a great many South American countries. With some of those countries, there were no negotiations at all; it follows that in those cases there were none with the Governments. In those cases where negotiations are proceeding at this time, matters, with certain of the Governments concerned, are still under discussion.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAre we to understand from that reply that the ordinary diplomatic channels were made use of during those negotiations?
§ Dr. BURGINThe hon. Member is to understand that the Embassies of the countries concerned are in close touch with the Government Departments which are conducting negotiations.
§ 22. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that since the introduction of the meat quota importers' profits have risen at the expense of the producer; that the price per stone of eight pounds at Smithfield market on 1st November was 3s. 5d., but is now 4s., whereas the price to the producer in Buenos Aires on 1st November was 13.0 centavos, and has fallen to 12.5 centavos; whether the price to the producer of the Dominions has risen or fallen since the introduction of the quota; and whether he proposes to take action to ensure that any benefit from the operation of the quota shall accrue to the producer?
§ Dr. BURGINI am aware that an improvement in wholesale meat prices has taken place since the introduction of the scheme for restricting imports. I have no recent official information as regards prices paid to producers in South America or the Dominions. I under 1411 stand, however, that prices paid to producers in the Argentine have definitely increased since the restrictions came into force, and that the figures quoted by the hon. Member do not reflect the prices of chilling cattle. As regards the Dominions, I am informed that, in Australia, so far as mutton and lamb are concerned, the increase of prices on Smithfield has been reflected in the prices paid to producers, whilst there has been some increase in the price of beef. The New Zealand season is just now opening, and I understand that, so far as can be seen, prices paid to producers are in conformity with London prices.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMight I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, if a question is put upon the Order Paper, he will be able to give us any comparable prices for two different periods from the Argentine and from some of the Dominions?
§ Dr. BURGINI will endeavour to give what information I can.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSIs it not the duty of the Government to make its first work the benefiting of the home producer rather than the foreign producer