PRODUCE SOLD TO BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26119, 23 May 1950, Page 4

PRODUCE SOLD TO BRITAIN

INCREASE SOUGHT IN PRICE DECISION BY FEDERATED FARMERS ’ (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 22. The Dominion council of Federated Farmers has decided to press for the full 71 per cent, permissible price increase under New Zealand’s bulk contract for the sale of butter, cheese, and meat to Britain in the 1950-51 season. Representatives of the Meat Board and the Dairy Board have left for England to negotiate prices for the coming season. The bulk contract provides that prices may neither rise nor fall more than 7£ per cent, in any one season. The Dominion council of Federated Farmers has also decided to ask the Government to publish a White Paper telling the history of the price negotiations between New Zealand and Britain and other Governments for the sale of New Zealand produce since 1939. The council asks that this paper should show how the increased prices received for New Zealand exports compare with increased prices for imports from individual countries, and that it should set out the full facts about the lump sum payments made by Britain to New Zealand.

VIEWS OF MR WARREN AND MR NASH FURTHER STATEMENTS “New Zealand farmers would be grateful if Mr Nash would produce a balance-sheet from the British Government showing details of all transactions in New Zealand primary produce under bulk purchasing arrangements,” said the former president of the agricultural section of the North Canterbury district of Federated Farmers (Mr G. C. Warren) in a statement yesterday. Mr Warren, in his presidential report to the section’s annual conference on Friday, said that New Zealand officials negotiating prices for New Zealand primary products with Great Britain had shown an over-patriotic spirit and too little consideration for the welfare of New Zealand farmers and New Zealand as a whole. He also asserted that low prices being paid for New Zealand produce were being used to help bolster the British Government's subsidy arrangements. The Deputy-Leader of the Opposition (Mr W. Nash) described these statements as being “entirely misleading” in an interview at the week-end. In an interview yesterday Mr AVarren mentioned partridge peas as an example. He said that the maximum price the New Zealand producer received for partridge peas was 14s 6d a bushel. The same peas were retailed in Britain at 52s a bushel. “New Zealand farmers know that a socialist government is an expensive form of government but it should not take as large a profit as that to run it,” he said. Mr Nash’s Reply “It is not possible for me to supply British Government balance-sheets,” said Mr Nash yesterday afternoon, when Mr AVarren’s statement was referred to him. “But on the publicity given to prices it looks as if we have been receiving a much higher price for our products than they are sold for in Britain, particularly butter.” Mi- Nash said he had stated previouslv that if the prices of our products were left to the free play of supply and demand, and fell, the effect on the New Zealand dairy farmer would be very much harder than on any ether section. “With regard to the example cited by Mr Warren.” said Mr Nash, referring to the prices paid for partridge peas, "this illustrates what happens when private enterprise deals with farmers and then gets what it can.” WARNING Bl' AUCKLAND EXPORTER (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. May 22. Suggestions that New Zealand •should adopt a stiffening and “more realistic” attitude towards Britain in negotiating prices for her primary products might prove very unfortunate for the Dominion, said Mr F. A. Hellabv, managing director of R. and AV. Hcllaby. Ltd., meat exporters, today. He said that New Zealand might soon be concerned not so much with price but with the right of entry of its products to Britain. “Nothing could be more dangerous." Mr Hellaby said, “than that New Zealand, whose economy is so closely knit with Britain's, should align herself with the Argentine and Denmark The meat and butter prices paid to these countries are not the real value. “The Argentine does not pass on to its producers the price paid by Britain nor does Britain charge that price to its consumers. It is to New Zealand's interest to retain Britain’s good will so that when suoplies are nlentiful—a time apparently near at hand—the Dominion may confidently expect priority of entry of her products over a foreign supplier.’’