EMPIRE DUMPING

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 20, 24 July 1933, Page 7

EMPIRE DUMPING

BITTER THINGS SAID

GOVERNMENT ATTACKED

NEW POLICY OF QUOTAS

United Press Association—By Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright.

LONDON, July 22.

Bitter things of what it terms "Empire Dominion" are said by the "Evening Star," London. Similar hostility to the Dominions' trading policy is evident in other quarters, and strong pressure is developing in favour of quota restrictions. The Ottawa agreements are also sharply criticised.

The "Evening Star" refers editorially to the recent debate'in the House of Lords and Lord de la Warr's statement in reply, and says that tho latter's feeble answer to the cynical mockery of Empire trade is "to issue threats and warnings of what may happen when the Ottawa agreements expire, though by that time this evil system of,colonial dumping may/have done its fell work and put British producers beyond capacity to come back. The paper also publishes a cartoon showing a Knight of Empire Free Trade crushed to the ground by a sack labelled "Empire Dumping."

PREVALENT COMMENT.

This attitude of the "Star" to Dominion trade is typical of a good deal of other prevalent comment. Particularly strong attacks were made on the British Government at a meeting -of the' Yorkshire executive of. the National Farmers' Union, where a resolution was carried, unanimously that Major Elliot, Minister of Agriculture, bo urged to. obtain immediately further substantial restrictions on the importation of live and dead meats in order to avert the present ruinous prices of home-pro-duced meat. New Zealand can gather from this the difficult task confronting Mr. Forbes and Mr. Masters.

The "Birmingham Gazette" says that the peculiarity of the World Confei'ence is tha>t most of its important work is being done outs,ido the framework of tho Conference itself. The paper states that the serious disagreement which arose between the British delegation and representatives of the Dominions' delegations on the question of quotas and other restrictions, at meetings at Whitehall,' continues.

GOVERNMENT ACTION.

It is understood that the British Government is pressing very strongly for the maintenance of a new policy of quotas on all forms of dairy produce, which policy is being as jtrougly opposed by New. Zealand and Australia. It is argued on behalf of the British Government that preference in case of butter has had the effect of permitting prices to go- down. Therefore, states the "Post," it is understood the British Government intends to proceed with a ; wider uso of the quota restriction as a means of securing a general increase in prico levels.

The New Zealand representatives urged the British Government to present definite proposals dealing, with the various commodities to which they desire to apply quotas. It is understood the British delegation has not so far agreed to do this.