MR. BAXTER IN NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1934, Page 4

MR. BAXTER IN NEW ZEALAND.

"TIMES'' REVIEWS VISIT.

BEARING ON MILK PROBLEM,

The visit of Mr. T. Baxter, who came out to New Zealand in connection with the marketing o£ New Zealand dairy produce in Britain, is commented on in "The Times."

It was with the problem of manufacturing milk prices uppermost in mind that Mr. Baxter, the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board, undertook his mission to New Zealand, says the newspaper. He went at the invitation of Mr. Forbes, the Prime Minister, to let the farmers of New Zealand know our position at first hand, and to make clear to them the damaging effect which unrestricted supplies of butter and cheese must have on the marketing scheme undertaken by home producers. He went out to give information, certainly impressed the farmers of New Zealand with the force of the home producer's case. The negotiation of quotas is a matter for discussion between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of New Zealand, and, as Mr. W. I£. Elliot, Minister of Agriculture, has congratulated Mr. Baxter since his return, it may be judged that his journey was not made in vain. It is felt strongly by farmers that it is time that measures were taken to safeguard the milk marketing scheme on the lines recommended by the Grigg Commission. Recently the council of the National Farmers' Union passed a resolution drawing tho attention of the Government to "tlie continued delay on the part of the Import Duties Advisory Committee in dealing with the application for the imposition of additional duties on certain milk products which were submitted to that committee nearly 12 months ago." The hope was also expressed that an early understanding would be reached with the Dominion Governments on the quantitative regulation of imports of cheese, butter, and other dairy produce. Failing this, the Governments are asked to introduce legislation without delay to provide for the payment by importers of milk products of a levy—as an essential complement to the levy on home milk producers—to provide funds from which compensation may be paid to farmers who make cheese and butter.