“Molly-coddling Of N.Z. By Britain”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31279, 27 January 1967, Page 1

“Molly-coddling Of N.Z. By Britain ”

(From the London correspondent of "The Press”)

LONDON, January 26.

Writing in the “Scotsman,” E. B. Ruffmann says Britain’s “molly-coddling” of New Zealand in giving her farm products free access to the British market could “destroy the home sheep industry utterly.”

In an article headlined “Sheep Industry Facing Destruction,” Ruffmann says: “Just when the British sheep industry is on its uppers, many dairy farmers in New Zealand are going out of milk and into sheep. They are also stepping up their sheep stocking rates.

“They must have been tremendously encouraged to do so at an increasing rate as a result of the recent signing of this 1966-1972 trade agreement and it is no exaggeration to say that, if we continue to make it so easy for the New Zealand sheep farmer, he could ship lamb to the British market in such quantities as to destroy the home sheep industry utterly.

“The New Zealander is a loyal member of the Commonwealth. Those who fought alongside him in two great wars know him for a good friend and a tough and courageous ally. As a sportsman he is well liked even by the British Lions (though probably better off the field than on).

“But he is a big boy now and the time has surely come to prise his bands from his mother’s apron strings. The British sheep farmer wants to live, too.” Mr Ruffmann advocated a five-year phasing down by

quota of British imports of New Zealand mutton from 350,000 tons to 250,000 tons. He said the New Zealander would “simply transfer his full sales pressure to Japan and South-east Asia and quickly reap his reward.” Mr Ruffmann continued: “There is another good reason why New Zealand should cease to be molly-coddled. “In the 10 years from 1954 to 1964 New Zealand total imports from Britain dropped by 6 per cent, whereas her total exports to Britain rose by 18 per cent. “This is not good reciprocal trading. “In the face of a dying home sheep industry it is carrying Commonwealth preference to absurdity. Japan As Outlet

“New Zealand has another outlet thousands of miles nearer her' shores.

“Japan began to eat lamb and mutton only in 1959 when she imported 3000 tons. Since then her increase in

consumption has been rapid.” A policy of expansion would be the saving of British sheep farming, says the article, adding that the farmer was “sickened by watching his industry destroyed by the cheap food policy of a pack of vote-hungry politicians pandering to an ignorant public.”