SPECIAL ENVOY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 31, 31 October 1932, Page 9

SPECIAL ENVOY

Argentine-British Trade MEANING OF OTTAWA Removal of Misunderstandings THE MEAT AGREEMENTS (Rec. Oct. 30, 0.50 p.m.) New York, Oct 29. The Buenos Ayres correspondent of the New York “Times” states that President Juste announces that he is planning to send a special envoy to London ostensibly to return the visit of the Prince of Wales. However, it is generally admitted that the envoy will assist the Ambassador, Senor Manuel Malbran, to negotiate new trade treaties. To-day the British Ambassador sent a note to the Foreign Minister, Senor Saaverdra Lamas, explaining that the Ottawa agreements have been misunderstood by Argentina. He declared that Britain did not plan to establish quotas of meat Imports, but merely intended to hold imports at present levels for eighteen months, during which she would study all phases of the meat question, including friendly consideration of any representations Argentina wanted to make on the subject. DEBATE IN COMMONS Two Labour Amendments WHEAT & DAIRY PRODUCE London, Oct. 28. In the House of Commons, Mr. Tom Williams (Lab.) moved to omit from the Ottawa Bill the 2/- duty a quarter on wheat. This, he said, added to the duties on cheese and butter, would mean a real burden on the poor. Mr. Hore-Belisha (Under-Secretary of the Board of Trade) said that the object of the duty was to ensure a greater supply of Empire produce at the expense of foreign. He hoped the Dominions would reciprocate by buying more British manufactures. The consumer was amply protected by the provision that purchases must be at world price: If the Dominions were unable to supply produce at that, the duty would be removed. The amendment was rejected by 200 votes to 51. Mr. D. R. Grenfell (Lab.) moved the omission of butter, cheese, eggs, and milk. He contended that Britain could produce them as cheaply and effiicently as any other country. The Dominions were already able to compete in the market. The duty would mean that many poor would be unable to buy butter. They were already buying less Danish and more of the “cheaper and inferior Dominion butter.” Mr. Burgin ridiculed the idea of hardship on the poor. On the contrary, the effect would be mutually beneficial, the controlled supply giving the Empire an assured market. The amendment wc* rejected by 197 votes to 39. ' ; DAIRY PRODUCTION Dangers of a Large Increase London, Oct. 28. At a meeting of United Dairies, Limited, Mr. Maggs, the chairman, said that the effect of the tariffs on dairy products had hitherto been negligible. The duties on butter had not influenced prices owing to the increase in world production, the operation of quotas in other importing countries, and Empire supplies entering our market free and largely subsidised. “There appears to be a real danger,” he said, “if New Zealand and Australia continue their present rate of increase in dairying for long. They will kill the home manufacture of dairy produce, as they have already practically destroyed the sheep farming industry.”