OPTIMISM ON DAIRY QUOTA

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31412, 4 July 1967, Page 26

OPTIMISM ON DAIRY QUOTA

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, July 3.

Although the United States has cut imports of dairy produce from all sources by 75 per cent, New Zealand’s exports to the United States may not be cut by this amount, said Mr F. L. Onion, deputy chairman of the Dairy Board, in Hamilton today.

Mr Onion was commenting on the fact that the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Mr Orville Freeman, has been directed to take into account trade during previous years in allocating quotas for reduced imports of dairy products announced by President Johnson. “We sold £lO million of dairy products to the States

last year, principally in the form of cheese,” said Mr Onion. “New Zealand would not expect a 75 per cent reduction in her exports because we have been a traditional supplier to the United States and have never attempted to exploit our advantages. We have never attempted to dump surplus produce. “I for one would be terribly disappointed if the reduction in our exports to the States is anything like 75 per cent. The dairy industry and the whole of New Zealand for that matter will await further information in regard to actual quotas with the keenest interest.

“Coming after the disappointment of the Kennedy Round talks, this latest news is disconcerting to say the least, but the picture may not prove as black as the early news of the reduction indicated.”