BRITISH QUOTA POLICY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21147, 24 April 1934, Page 11

BRITISH QUOTA POLICY

Government Attacked

N.Z. QUESTIONS STILL MISUNDERSTOOD

(UNITED PRESa ASSOC IATIOW--S? ELZCTEIC TELEGRAM— COrTUIGHt.) (Received April 23, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, April 23. The "News-Chronicle'' says the promotion of free trade within the Empire is the general objective of the National Government, yet when New Zealand suggested a drastic reduction or removal of tariffs from British goods if the United Kingdom would guarantee the entry of New Zealand primary products, Mr J. H. Thomas (Secretary of State for the Dominions), explained haltingly that this was not so easy as it seemed. Pressed still further, Mr Thomas practically said, "No we won't." "The general objective lias ceased to be an objective. Indeed, the Government is going to march victoriously in the opposite direction, and the Dominions are to be urged to cooperate with Britain in cutting down their exports to Britain. If a heavy price would not have to be paid for these antics, contemplation of them would be amusing," says the newspaper. The newspaper adds that Government circles are convinced tha.t the Dominions, at a conference in London in June, will agree to voluntary restriction of meat exports, but behind this "Ottawa the second" will be the shadow of further restrictions when the Ottawa dairy agreements expire in 1935. The latter will certainly also be discussed in June. Britain is approaching the Argentine within three months to secure limitation of meat exports-