CONFERENCE REMITS

Evening Post, Volume CCX, Issue 145, 22 June 1933, Page 12

CONFERENCE REMITS

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

TRADE WITH BRITAIN

A remit proposing that unoccupied Native and Crown lands should be given rent-free for' a term of years to anyone undertaking to keep the lands free from noxious weeds and rabbits was carried ■without discussion at the conference of the Koyal Agricultural Society of New Zealand last evening. The president (Mr. L. R. C. Macfarlane) was in the chair. , . ■ The following Masterton remit, moved by Sir William Perry, was carried: —"That in view of the chilled beef export continuing a success, and to enable farmers to keep up the quality of their beef breeds, the Government be asked to make it less costly to the farmer to import beef breeds." MARKETING OF WOOL. . A suggestion that the Government be asked to set up a wool marketing board was made in a council remit moved by the president. \Mr. Macfarlane said that much could be done to reduce costs by an organisation representing the whole of the wool industry. During the past few-years shipping freights for every product exept wool had been reduced as a result of united representations. In that respe'et' alone a wool board would justify its existence. Several southern delegates said they had been instructed to oppose the ie^ mi't. It was felt that there were too many boards of different kinds at present, and that the wool industry would' be one of the first to improve and right itself. The opposition to the proposed board was unanimous in the south. In view of the opposition expressed and tho fact that wool marketing was to be discussed as part of the wool improvement scheme in which, the Government was interested, the remit was withdrawn. ' REDUCTION OF DUTIES. Sir William Hunt moved the following remit: "That in order to prevent any friction in trade with Great Britain over the quantities of our exports, the Government be urged to make' an immediate reduction in Customs duties on British-made goods. Further, that these reductions be made annually until all such Customs duties disappear." The Tariff Commission was sitting at present in pursuance of the Ottawa Agreements, he said, and New Zealand had definitely untertaken to reduce her duties so that the British manufacturer could' meet the local manufacturer on fair terms in. the New Zealand market. The Dominion should look to the time when the Ottawa Agreements would come up again for consideration, within three years so far as dairy,produce was concerned and within five years in the case of meat. He had little doubt that when Great Britain entered -nto the agreements she put New Zealand on trial, and if the Dominion did not play the game some action would probably be taken at the end of the respective periods. No part of the British Empire was more dependent upon the Fime market than New Zealand, and it was essential for her to put herself in such a position that her produce would be admitted free for all time. Sir William Perry seconded the remit. Mr. J. P.. Kalaugher moved as an amendment that the conference express, itself■• entirely in agreement with substantial preferences for British goods. To put the remit into full effect would wipe out New Zealand secondary industry completely. , The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, and the remit was carried. On the recommendation of the council, the following remit was carried: "That this conference supports the policy of a free market as against quotas for Empire products in Great Britain, and urges the Government that nothing shall be done by our representatives attending the London Conference to prejudice the position with regard to our present policy of free markets." ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected yesterday afternoon:—President, J rr. L. E. C. Macfarlane; vice-presidents, Mr. S. Austin Carr and Professor B. E. Alexander; treasurer, Sir W. D. Hunt; council, Messrs. W. E. A. Gill (Wellington), A.'Hunter (Hawera), J. Linklater, M.P. (Palmerston North), W. W. Massey, M.P. (Auckland), J. Edwards (Gore), G. Boss (North Otago), A..M. Weir Southland), and the Hon. A. P. Hawks (Invercargill).