BUTTER “MYSTERY”

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 147, 17 March 1933, Page 12

BUTTER “MYSTERY”

Australian Restrictions CONFLICTING REPORTS Board Still Undecided NOTHING TO ANNOUNCE The only development yesterday in what one agent described as the "great blitter mystery,” was an dndication from Australia that the Dairy Board there had not yet agreed to any restriction of exports. A Canberra cable message on Tuesday said the Australian Dairy Board had reluctantly agreed to a 6 per cent restriction of exports, but this is at variance with private cable messages received in Wellington yesterday. The New Zealand Dairy Board received 'a message from the Australian board stating that the Commonwealth Government had submitted, to it certain proposals regarding export restrictions. The board, however, was taking up a non-committal attitude in the meantime, and the question would be discussed at a special meeting at Canberra next Tuesday.

“Definitely Refused.” A message received in another quarter yesterday- is said to have stated that the Australian Dairy Board had definitely refused to commit itself to any policy of restriction of exports, and that if restriction was to be enforced’, then the Commonwealth Government must undertake the responsibility for such a decision. In the meantime the position. remains entirely unchanged as far as the New Zealand board is concerned. At its last meeting it carried a resolution definitely opposing any restriction. Three representatives of the board are leaving shortly for Australia to discuss matters affecting the industry with the board there. As matters stand nt present, no meeting of the New Zealand board will be held until the end of April. Unsettling to Industry. The position is unsettling to the dairying industry. London reports in"dicate that Australia’s supposed agreement to restriction has had the effect of firming the market there. New Zealand finest grade butter was quoted in London on Wednesday at 79/-, an advance of 5/- since Monday. The cheese market is/also firmer at an ad-< vance of 2/- a cwt; The latest returns issued by the Dairy Board and fully, summarised on to-day’s financial and comercial page, show that New Zealand’s exports of butter during the seven months ended February 28, increased by 13,530 tons or 21.73 per cent, to 75,787 tons compared with 62,257 tons for the corresponding period of last season. Australia’s butter exports to Britain for the same period were 70,335 tons, an increase of 13,130 tons, or nearly 23 per cent.

NO INKLING YET Government and Board Keep Contact NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE The relation of New Zealand’s butter exports to the serious position which has arisen on the British market owing to the glut of imports is receiving the constant attention of the Government in collaboration with the Dairy Produce Board, according to a brief statement made by the Minister of Finance and Customs, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates ,in reply to a question yesterday. Cablegrams are passing daily between the Dominion and Australia and England, but the Minister said it was still too early to give any inkling of the course of action which would.be agreed upon by the board. "There is nothing new or definite to report, on the discussions relating to the regulation of butter Imported into Great Britain,” Mr. Coates said. "The Government is closely in touch with the Dairy Board as representing the industry, and it is being consulted at every step. We are also in touch with the Governments in Great Britain and Australia, and have emphasised our anxiety to co-operate in meeting the present difficulties.

"Our latest advices show that discussions in London have been postponed owing to the absence of Ministers. "The Government is watching the position very carefully, but beyond the assurance that we are in close touch with the Dairy Board there is nothing that can be said at the present mo-<’ ment.”