RESTRICTED IMPORTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 192, 28 May 1934, Page 5

RESTRICTED IMPORTS.

ATTITUDE OF BRITISH PEOPLE.

HANDS TIED BY AGREEMENT. (United Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 25. The appeal by the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. A. Lyons) at Canberra to Australian primary producers to be prepared to co-operate, with the Government in any action that might have to be taken for the marketing of their products, evoked no official comment. Meanwhile the High Commissioner for New Zealand (Sir James Parr) got a committee of experts to work investigating the marketing of New Zealand produce. The "Daily Mail" says that the prospect of restriction of imports of meat and of dairy produce is viewed with anxiety and repugnance .'in the Dominions, but people in England are determined to clear up the situation. All the quotas-, will accomplish is to multiply bureaucratic interference. (The Dominions' request is simply that England should not ask them to submit'to restrictions before imposing more stringent limitations on foreign competitors. The dumping of foreign butter and cheese torpedoed prices and caused distress among British farmers. Unhappily our hands are tied for two years bv ' foolish foreign trade agreements, but the Dominions ought to be assured, that these will not be renewed. In his appeal Mr Lyons said that Australians must decide whether they would continue producing at the old rate and the old conditions, / thereby (forcing prices down, to ruinous levels, whether they would restrict their out-! put to the needs of their customers, or whether they Avould strike out boldly for new markets. Mr Lyons suggested an expansion of foreign mar(kets as the most hopeful plan against a restriction of exports.