EXPORT QUOTAS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 98, 19 January 1935, Page 6

EXPORT QUOTAS

Is Butter Likely to be Affected? LONDON DISCUSSIONS Task of New Executive Commission Administrators agree that (he first task of the new Executive Commission of Agriculture will be to consider the problem of quotas on New Zealand’s primary exports to the United Kingdom. Apart from the statutory chairman the Minister of Agriculture, the personnel of the Commission, comprising three members appointed by the Government, will be announced soon. There has been no hitch in respect of the selection, and such delay as may seem apparent, has been due to the necessity for communicating with the prospective appointees near and far, and completing essential arrangements. The Commission will have much work to do when it assumes office, and its tasks will justify the conditions of appointment—a full-time job. “One doubts if it is fully realised In New Zealand,” observed an expert official yesterday, “that on August 20 of this year the British Government will be free, if it so desires, to' do one of the other of two things in respect of dairy produce from overseas to the United Kingdom—(l) To impose a quota on dairy imports from all countries, including New Zealand, or. (2) To impose a tax while maintaining the same preferential margins as in. the Ottawa agreements. The British authorities can put a. tax of ten shillings per cwt. on New Zealand butter and 25/- on foreign butter. It does not follow, of course, that the British Government will take such action, but in view of the possibilities, it will be necessary for everyone concerned to give careful heed to the questions involved. Personally, I think that the unanimous judgment of New Zealand will be that bad as quotas are they are preferable to a stiff tax in order to subsidise British producers with possibly a detrimental effect on prices. In any case the problem will call not only for the attention of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, but also for consideration by the Ministerial delegation to London during the English summer.” Quotas on Meat. On the question of moat quotas, which for the first time are in operation, marking an important change in British policy, it was ascertained from an authoritative quarter that the quotas for the first three months of this year arc regarded as being distinctly favourable and satisfactory to New Zealand. It was pointed out that competing foreign imports had been reduced in the case of mutton, Jamb and frozen beef by 35 per cent, below the figures for the Ottawa year (1931-32), while foreign chilled beef had been reduced by 10 per cent, below that year. As disclosed by the British Government the other day, the comparison between the quotas allotted to Australia and New Zealand for the current quarter showed that the Dominion’s exports of beef, veal, mutton and lamb, and pork totalled 1,035,000 cwts., while the Commonwealth’s amounted to 653,700 cwts. In detail the difference means that in beef and veal the quota to New Zealand for this quarter is double the quantity shipped in the corresponding quarter of the Ottawa year when New Zealand supplies were 80,000 cwt.; tlie increase allowed to Australia is one-eighth. Mutton and Lamb. In mutton ami lamb Australia had abnormally small exports in the Ottawa year, and an increase from 315,000 ewts. in the March quarter of 1932 to 450,000 in the March quarter of 1935 is intended to allow her normal exports. The quota for New Zealand at 800,000 is regarded as sufficient to cover the total in mutton and lamb that will be available for shipment from the Dominion. Last year New Zealand's exports of mutton and lamb in the March quarter were 772,000 cwts. and Australia’s were 455,000. In the March quarter this year New Zealand thus has an increase of 28,000 cwts., while Australia is slightly down below the corresponding quarter of last year.

Favourable Pork Quota. The pork quota is especially favourable to New Zealand, and good provision has been made for the marked expansion in pig-raising in New Zealand. The United Kingdom imports of pork in the March quarter oj; 1932, which was the “Ottawa year,” were 15,000 cwts. from Australia and 27,000 ewts. from New Zealand. The quotas for the March quarter of 1935, at 16,700 for Australia and 75,000 cwts. for New Zealand, show how the interests of New Zealand pig producers have been promoted. Altogether the arrangements that have been made are hold to reflect very considerable credit on the High Commissioner for New Zealand (Sir James Parr), the chairman of the Meat Producers’ Board (Mr. David Jones), and the board’s London manager (Mr. R. S. , Forsyth), who have represented New Zealand in the negotiations, and they show also that the British Government have appreciated the readiness witli which New Zealand has co-operated in discussing plans. As to the prospect of new agreements in respect of meat, it is generally anticipated that what has been called a long-term agreement will probably not be longer than nine months, or a year at the outside.