STATE AND PRODUCER

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 82, 7 April 1938, Page 8

STATE AND PRODUCER

A Sydney cablegram published today states: "The principles of Empire trade which were accepted by the Empire Producers Conference are certain to be endorsed by the Federal Government." Presumably this, includes endorsement of the role assigned to commodity councils. The New Zealand Minister of Finance and Marketing offers no similar endorsement. On the contrary, Mr. Nash's brief comment yesterday included two most important provisos. "At the present moment we feel," he said, "that to the extent that there is direct contact between the United Kingdom Government ( and the New Zealand Government,, it gives better relations than conference procedure." We interpret this to mean that Mr. Nash prefers that any voice given to producers should be given by. the Government of the country, that this will be better than farmer talking to farmer. The possible reason for Mr. Nash's preference is suggested by the other proviso in the Minister's statement: "This does not mean," he said, "that we are not willing at any time to discuss proposals for the regulation of trade, provided that it does not lead to restriction while consumers' 'demands are unsatisfied." If may be that Mr. Nash fears that direct, negotiation between producers here and producers elsewhere may lead 'to regulation .schemes which do not make full allowance for consumers' interests. There is also the fact that New Zealand Government policy, as exemplified in the dairy produce plan, favours State control, not the producer control which the Empire Producers Conference favours.