QUOTAS TO BE DISCUSSED.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20920, 29 July 1933, Page 11

QUOTAS TO BE DISCUSSED.

* DOMINIONS SAID TO HAVE AGREED. VOLUNTARY RESTRICTIONS LIKELY. " DAILY TELEGRAPH'S " REPORT. (V>.TiT.a V8.E39 ASSOCIATION— r,V KMXTKIC TEI.FGRAPIt- COVYRIUUT.; (Received July 28, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 28. The special correspondent; of the "Daily Telegraph" says that he is in a position to state that the Dominion leaders, in the last 48 hours have recognised that they are spoiling their own chances, besides those of the British farmers, by flooding the British market with their agricultural products. The Dominions have agreed that their experts shall forthwith enter into a detailed discussion with the experts of the United Kingdom on each product involved to determine what proportion of the British market should be assured them. Failure to reach voluntary limitation of exports on the terms considered by the British Government as fair would inevitably lead to the imposition by Great Britain of import restrictions directed to the same purpose. EMPIRE NEGOTIATIONS DIFFICULT STAGE | REACHED. | CONCESSIONS ASKED BY j I BRITAIN. j ! i j LONDON, July 27. j | While in Dominion circles the suggestion that a crisis is developing over the Empire trade negotiations is scouted, it is believed that a difficult stage has been reached, particularly over the British requests for the curtailment of Dominion exports of dairy products and meat. Mr W. E. Eiliot (British Minister for Agriculture) realises that British agriculture was badly represented at the Ottawa Conference, and is belatedly trying to obtain a better deal, assisted by Mr J. 11. Thomas (Secretary of State for the Dominions), who is maintaining that Dominions are not implementing the Ottawa agreement by reducing tariffs, and that they should be more ready to make concessi -ns in the interests of British agriculture. The Dominions are now producing the latest figures to prove that thenimports of British manufactures have increased since Ottawa. It is understood that Mr Elliot is worrying less over the increase of butter exports than cheese, which is the chief means British farmers have of disposing of their surplus milk. The demand for the restriction of cheese exports affects Australia far less than New Zealand, which is strongly contesting the proposal because of the disastrous effects on the producers. The Dominion delegations arc hoping for finality before the British Ministers begin to disperse for the holidays. THE SYSTEM CONDEMNED. CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE ALARMED. TPiUr; asson.vno:; tei.-gu.im..) WELLINGTON, July 28. "The quota system is the latest example, and the most wicked example, of economic nationalism that the world has yet had," says an official statement issued by the Associated Chambers of Commerce. "We have just had a breakdown of the conference in London. It has broken down because of one thing—economic nationalism. Unless we can get an international outlook in regard to economics, we are not going to get anywhere with restrictions generally." The following resolution was unanimously carried: "This association is apprehensive regarding the introduction of the quota system for the regulation of international trade, and is particularly alarmed at the suggestion that the export to the United Kingdom of New Zealand primary products should be subjected to restriction by quota. It urges on the Government and all concerned that New Zealand should offer the utmost reciprocity to Britain in order to preserve a free entry into the United Kingdom of New Zealand's primary products." It was decided to telegraph the resolution to the Prime Minister in London, and to send it to the Act-ing-Prime Minister (the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates).