PRIMARY PRODUCTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 196, 1 June 1934, Page 3

PRIMARY PRODUCTS

THE POLICY OF BRITAIN.

THE EFFECT ON THE DOMINION.

'(Per Press Association). CAMBRIDGE, Alay 31

The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Finance) was given a hearty welcome at the Town Hall to-night, when he delivered an address confined principally to primary production problems and marketing conditions. After referring to the revival of industry, Mr Coates said he believed that better times were ahead, with evidence of rising confidence, A though the country’s troubles were by no means over. The great difficulty New Zealand had to face to-day was the policy of extreme nationalism of foreign countries. Many countries producing more expected to send their surpluses to Great Britain, consequently the reflection upon New Zealand was serious. Another aspect definitely concerning the Dominion was the changed policy of primary production and mai'keting at Home. It was quite impossible for the Dominion to adopt a free traded policy. AVhat New Zealand had to do was to co-operate with Britain all the way.

Mr Coates was definitely of opinion that the action taken at Ottawa was entirely in the interests of Empire farmers. The Ottawa Agreement re-, suited in the sheep and pig farmers of the Dominion being practically out of trouble to-day, though Ire regretted that they never really sat down with Great Britain’s representatives and decided upon a quantitative agreement. However, there had been a sigh of relief from every Dominion dairy farmer when he learned that Gi’eat Britain ivould not interfere with the entry of dairy produce from New Zealand for another two years. It was essential that the people of, New Zealand to-day should watch carefully the policy of Great Britain primarily and cominercially. Britain had decided upon the policy of subsidising 'milk and kindred products. The reflection would ho felt in New Zealand, which had to prepare a plain to meet these altered conditions at Home. Economic conditions in Great Britain were altering to-day. The best thing Newi Zealand could do was to follow Britain’s example. The agreements phase had to he passed through. Mr Coates said they had to plan, not talk. They might find it essential to have quantitative regulations, and then find ways of sending surpluses of primary pi’oduce to other markets. He did not think that linking up with tho Eastern markets would he a menace in years to come.