“BASED ON SERIOUS MISAPPREHENSION”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 221, 15 June 1936, Page 3

“BASED ON SERIOUS MISAPPREHENSION”

Dominion Marketing Act

ENGLISH FARMERS’ VIEW

The opinion that the Primary Products Marketing Act is based upon a serious niisap.prebension of conditions in Great Britain, both productive and consumptive, is expressed by the English National Farmers’ Union in a statement published iu the issue of the “Farmer and Stock-Breeder," of May 11,. which reached Wellington at the week-end. At the time the statement appeared at Home the measure was before the New Zealand Parliament, siucc when it has been placed on the Statute Book. The statement of the National Farmers’ Union is as follows: —

“Vigorous opposition is being conducted in the New Zealand Parliament against the Primary Products Marketing Bill, wheih has been introduced by the new Government. So far as can be ascertained, the measure aims to give the New Zealand Government control of the farmers’ produce in the home and export markets, and the payment of standard prices to producers. “How far such a measure will involve subsidisation of exjvorted milk products is not yet clear, but the Lender of the Opposition has already expressed the opinion that the Bill will generate the opposition of the British farmer through his opposition to the subsidising of exports. “New Zealand is the principal supplier of dairy products to this country, and the Bill is being promoted iu the belief in a ‘great capacity in Great Britain to absorb increased production’ of dairy produce. It is clear that British farmers will be vitally interested Lu the proposals. “They are at present so badly hit by the existing huge imports of dairy produce l.bat any attempt to take advantage of the ■capacity to absorb increased production’ is at. present followed only by disastrously low manufacturing prices for milk. The New Zealand Bill .seems to l>e based upon a serious misapprehension of conditions in this country, both productive and consumptive.”