BRITISH REACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 7

BRITISH REACTION

IMPORT CONTROL

RETALIATION PROBABLE

(By releeraph—Press Association,)

ELENHEIM, February 16.

The conviction that retaliatory restrictions would be imposed on the importation of New Zealand produce by Britain as the result of the Dominion's regulation of imports, was expressed by Mr. E. W. Gough, an English farmer, who was formerly a resident of Marlborough and is now revisiting the district.

"I am a prominent member of the National Farmers' Union and am more or less in,the know, and I can say our Government has definitely promised the English agriculturist that restrictions will be imposed on imports," he said. He expected the application of quotas against each of the Dominions and colonies on the lines suggested at the Empire producers' conference in Sydney. The leader of the British delegation to this, Sir Reginald Dor-man-Smith, was the new Minister of Agriculture. English farmers were eager, to maintain the bonds of Empire, but the enormous British investments in the Argentine, for instance, must be borne in mind.

"My advice to New Zealand farmers is, through their Farmers' Union and other organisations, closely to watch the position to see that they get their full share, as part of the Empire, of the trade to which they are entitled, and that they receive preference over countries not within the Empire. In my opinion New Zealand should be reasonably careful not to antagonise British manufacturing and farming interests. It is very important these days that as far as possible the Dominions should take out the value of produce in manufactured goods, as it must be realised that Britain has an extremely heavy burden in re-arma-ment.

The Upper Hutt Borough Council last night decided to inform the Government that it did not approve of greater restrictions being imposed on motor-cyclists than were imposed on drivers of. motor-cars.