QUOTA BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 188, 8 May 1934, Page 9

QUOTA BATTLE

Sharp Differences of ■ Opinion in Britain INDUSTRIALISTS AND FARMERS I Rival Policies of Mr. Elliot and Mr. Runciman MR. THOMAS CRITICISED By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received May 7, 7 p.m.) London, May 7. The "Daily Herald’s” political correspondent says that the issue on Sir Herbert Samuel’s motion concerning New Zealand’s inquiry for mutual free trade iu the House of Commons today is between the stand of Mr. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, for tlie development of a world market with Dominions and foreign countries alike and the policy of Mr. W. Elliot. Minister of Agriculture. of securing a closed market for rhe British farmer, even to the point of discriminating against the Dominion producer. Mr. Runciman is backed by Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Lord Hailsham and members of Cabinet responsible for the Ottawa agreement. An acute battle is developing between British industrial and agricultural interests. City opinion is strongly opposed to interference in the trade with the Dominions. Another complication is provided by Mr. J. H. Thomas, Secretary for the Dominions, who is becoming increasingly irritated by Dominion pressure. Tlie “Daily Express” says: Mr. Thomas will seek to show that the New Zealand offer was no offer but an inquiry, but Mr. Forbes’s inquiry was made as Hie basis to a deal. There was hn offer and he rejected it. It is monstrous to say that acceptance would harm British farmers. Is British industry to lose the New Zealand market because the Government prefers to buy Argentine products? The country won’t tolerate a Government which refuses such an offer. COURSE FOR BRITAIN Member of Parliament’s Plan London. May 6. Lieutenant-Colonel Heneage. M.P., in a letter to “The Timeo,” suggests that the Government should declare what commodities Britain can grow in sufficiency to make her self-supporting. These include eggs, poultry, pigs, pota toes, milk and cream. She must import wheat, cattle, wool and sugar. Dominion and colonial produce should not he restricted until foreign imports are limited to vanishing point.