The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-07-25
TRADE CONFERENCE
VIRTUALLY GIVES Up
WHEAT TARIFF PLAN
South Africa Joins Australia in
Plea for More of British
Meat Trade
BRUCE BEHIND DEPARTURE
Tariff Would Have Little Effect
on Wheat Price, Subject
to World Level
BRUCE BEHIND DEPARTURE

Ottawa, July 25.-(F-Delegates to
the empire trade conference had
practically given up Monday the no.
ton Of an inter- dominion wheat tar
If preference and were centering
their attention on meat.
South Africa has joined Australia
in plea for larger share Of tbs
British meat trade. only 81 per cent
of which is now with the dominions
most of other 40 per cent is with
Argentina and the United States.
Geographically" the South Afri-
can delegation pointed out in state
ment, there is no reason why the
union Of South Africa, together with
Southern Rhodesia. the protectorates
and Southwest Africa, should not pro-
duce a sufficient number Of good
quality cattle for the regular supply
of chilled beef to the British mar
ket."
Inter-empire trade in minor COM
modities now supplied by the United
States and Argentina also figured
prominently in the schedule for this
weeks work.
MCre imam IL consumes
In the case of wheat, the empire
produces more than it consumes and
any tariff treatment would be likely
to have small effect in a commodity
subject to a world price level.
South Africa. Australia and New
Zealand virtually decided over the
weekend that more advantage could
be gained by centering on meat,
fruits. and other produtcS OF which
the empire produces less than 1t con-
sumes
BY readjustments IN crop produce
ton in these items. their represent
atives urged, the empire might be-
made self sustaining and the sur
pluses of other crops neutralized.
The departure was initiated by
Premier Bruce Of Australia who
dropped the major crops of wheat
and wool to discuss development of
Australia's meat industry as replac-
ing British purchases abroad. Can
ada is highly interested In larger
share of the British meat, fruit and
dairy products market but had come
into conference, as Premier Bennett
said, prepared to make concessions to
Britain on the theory that the grea:
basic industries Of both countries
eould be the ones selected for prefer
entail treatment.
Possibility Still Exists
On the welfare of the major indus
tries, he said. depended the welfare
of the countries themselves. This
was taken to imply that Canada
wanted the conference to make some
disposition of her annual wheat
surplus problem. The possibility has
not passed, however, that the London
government may still attempt an en-
pire wheat solution.
A virtual demand has been made
that the British markets boycott
Russian wheat and take empire grain
In its place.
Foreign countries get an annual
average of more than $lc0, 1000 900 of
Great Britain's total outlay for beef.
Australia now is Britain's most i'm.
, portant source of beef within the en-
pire.
It is said that all Of the dominions
could materially increase their yields
of one or more Of the deficient prod
ucts If given preference against for
eigners.
The unofficial view Of the British
delegation was that Senator Borah'S
offer to support an international
conference to deal with war debts in
volved the success Of the conference
here.