British Farmers’ Plan For Food Marketing

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29910, 25 August 1962, Page 17

British Farmers’ Plan For Food Marketing

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

LONDON, August 24. Britain’e National Farmers’ Union, which has maintained a cool attitude toward the Common Market has proposed a system for world food distribution which it hopes will prove an. alternative. The plan would embrace the Commonwealth and the principal temperate food producing countries and the policy would be organised through an expanded version of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (0.E.C.D.). The report foresees expanding the O.E.C.D.—which at present embraces the six countries of the Common Market, the seven countries of the European Free Trade Area, the United States and Canada —to include Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina in the agricultural sphere of its work. Special arrangements should also be made for trade arrangements with countries of the Soviet bloc. The world agreements would place special emphasis on the distribution of cereals, sugar, dairy products, beef and veal.

In principle, each agreement would be designed to enable exporting countries to have a reasonable access to markets within agreed price ranges.

The countries would regulate their production policies on the basis of demand within their own territory and the opportunities for exporting within the terms of the international agreements.

There would be a corresponding obligation on all countries who were party to the agreements to gear their own food production and marketing policies to international agreements. A pap«r outlining the plan said it was a policy “which stems from recognition of the fact that while Britain is of Europe, she is not in Europe. “The framework proposed

would mean a considerable expansion of the political as well as the economic interdependence of the West. . . . “In this wider organisation of States, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth would have ample opportunities to make a significant and effective contribution to a developing world economy.”

The plan was announced at a press conference by the National Farmers’ Union president, Mr Harold Woolley. on behalf of his union, the N.F.U. of Scotland, and the Ulster Farmers’ Union. On negotiations with the Six. Mr Woolley told the press conference: “ . . . The fact has to be faced that terms have not been achieved which we could regard as providing a basis for a stable, efficient and prosperous industry safeguarding the interests of British agriculture and horticulture." Unless these terms were achieved, the unions would have no choice but to oppose British entry into the Common Market.