EMPIRE QUOTAS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21124, 27 March 1934, Page 9

EMPIRE QUOTAS

* SUBJECT REVIVED IN BRITAIN "DOOM OF OTTAWA TREATY FORESHADOWED" (USITT.D TRESS ASSOCIATION —11V ELECTrjC TELEGRAM!—COPYRIGHT.) ißeceived March 26, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 25. The political correspondent of the "'News-Chronicle" says that the British Government's message to New Zealand foreshadows the doom of the Ottawa agreements. Mr J. H. Thomas, Secretary of State for the Dominions, replying to recent enquiries by the Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) regarding reciprocity, hinted that the advantages proffered would not outweigh the severity of Dominion competition with British farm products. The Cabinet believes that imports of Dominion agricultural products must be forcefully restricted as soon as the expiry of the Ottawa agreements frees ' the Government's hands. The "Daily Telegraph," announcing the Government's rejection of New Zealand's offer of lower tariffs, in return for a free market for her dairy produce, attributes it to the influence of Mr W. E. Elliot (Minister for Agriculture), who is insistent on the interests of the farmer.

PRIME MINISTER'S EXPLANATION "POLITICAL SI'ECTLATION" The Prime Minister (the Kt. Hon. G. \V. Forbes) m a telephone interview with "The Press" last evening, said that the foregoing message referred to the cablegram received recently from the British Government containing a definite declaration of a policy to regulate the Home market in order to increase price levels and alleviate the position of the British producer. This cablegram and others which had passed between the Dominion and British Governments had been announced at the recent dairy conference in Wellington. The New Zealand Government had asked whether the adoption of a practically tree tariff on Britisn goods would enablt. New Zealand to obtain free entry of her produce on to the British market. The British Government had replied that the tariff and quota problems were quite separate, and that Britain was already committed to a policy of regulation of imports. Mr Forbes said lie doubted whether Mr Thomas had intended to give the impression referred to by the political correspondent of the "News-Chronicle." The message sounded very much like political speculation, and it should be treated as such. The British Government's reply to the New Zealand representations had merely indicated that no discrimination could be made between various parts of the Empire.