ABSORBING PROBLEMS

Evening Star, Issue 21469, 21 July 1933, Page 7

ABSORBING PROBLEMS

PRODUCTION AND MARKETING WORLD CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS [Special to United Press Association New Zealand.] LONDON, July 19. The sub-committee'of the World Conference yesterday dealt further with the Polish proposal aiming at international organisation of the butter market and the creation of -an international dairy council. It also dealt with the Italian proposal that a drafting sub-committee bo set up, consisting of representatives of Italy, Poland, and Switzerland, to prepare a resolution for the approval of the commission on the co-ordination of production and marketing. Later a draft resolution was submitted requesting the International Institute of Agriculture, the International Agricultural Commission, the International Dairy Federation, and the Economic Committee of the League of Nations to make a preliminary study of the question, and inviting tho Governments of tho various countries to send to the secretariat of tho League of Nations before September 10 all data at their disposal on this question, particularly their views on tho constitution of the International Dairy Council. .It is understood that Major Elliot advocated delay to enable full inquiry into the general position from the international point of view and farther exploration in regard to setting up a permanent international dairy council. Major Elliot’s attitude was the result of the strong stand taken by New Zealand and Australia in opposing quantitative restrictions and the recommendation to dispose of the question so far as the World Conference is concerned. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE COMPETITION BY DOMINIONS. LONDON, July 19. In tho House of Lords Lord Strachie asked what the Government was doing to prevent British agricultural produce from being undersold by unlimited importation of dominion butter and cheese. The Earl of Radnor said the Government would not be honourable if it threw over agreements, but when tho time came for revision British agriculture might have a good deal to say. He hoped the dominions would remember that the spirit of the agreements was vastly more important than the letter in both Britain’s and their own interests.

Earl de la Warr (for the Government) replied that tho co-operation of the dominions must he obtained for any effective regulation of imports on the basis of a voluntary agreement. He was not despairing because he was unable to place a pistol at the heads of the dominions, and the time might come when the dominions would find that it would pay them better to relax the letter of the agreements in order to carry out the spirit. If the dominions stood to the letter the time would come when British markets, which wore so important to the dominions, would deteriorate. He personally was convinced that it would bo possible to reach an understanding with the dominions.

THE WHEAT QUESTION LONDON, July 20. Wheat consumers and producers this morning held a long meeting and formulated a tentative understanding, under which consumers will lower their tariffs as prices move in the producers’ favour. As tho vital questions of quotas and restrictions were not touched a sub-com-mittee of small producers and consumers is being appointed to affirm tho general principles, which it is hoped the consuming Governments will implement later. The position continues to bo subject to reservations, and whatever is achieved is unlikely to have a farreaching effect, particularly concerning Australia.

SHIPPING SUBSIDIES EMPIRE ACTION SUGGESTED. LONDON, July 20. The ' Daily Mail,’ regretting that the World Conference is about to adjourn without agreement on the subject of shipping subsidies, says: “Our shipping cannot hold its own when attacked by State-aided enterprises of foreign countries. The Government should take counsel with the representatives of the dominions here. It may be necessary in Empire ports to discriminate against vessels of States which discriminate against us. This is simply self-defence.” THE SIMPLE INDIAN FAITH IN WORLD CONFERENCE. CALCUTTA, July 20. There are some persons at least who have blind faith in the success of the World Economic Conference. A certain municipal committee in the Punjab province, in a quandary to make financial ends meet, suddenly budgeted for an enormous anticipatory revenue. The committee was greatly surprised when asked the reason for such unbounded optimism, and the reply given was: “ The Economic Conference, which is meeting in London, is bringing great prosperity to the whole world, and therefore our anticipations are fied.”The Government is now taking steps to dispel the prosperity illusion. THE TARIFF TRUCE _ (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 20. (Received July 21, at noon.) Referring in the House of Commons te the tariff truce to-day the Financial Secretary for the Treasury (Major

Hore-Belisha) said that under the terms of the resolution adopted by the Organising Committee of the World Economic Conference the Governments concerned agreed that they would not adopt any new initiatives in the matter of tariffs before June 12 or during the proceedings of the conference, except that in the case of any individual Government p-wer was reserved to withdraw at any time after July 31, 1933, on giving one month’s notice to that effect. In the view of the British Government, which subscribed to that resolution, they remained bound by its terms during any adjournment of the conference unless its proceedings had been finally concluded.

DOMINION DELEGATES RESENTFUL STRAIGHT TALKING EXPECTED AT MONDAY’S MEETING. LONDON, July 20. (Received July 21, at 11.50 a.m.) The dominion delegations are , considerably stirred by the tone of yesterday’s dairy produce debate in the House of Lords. For some days resentment has been manifest at what is termed the censorious note of Mr Thomas’s replies to questions in the House of Commons ; consequently it is expected that renewal of the Empire discussion on meat and dairy produce problems at Monday’s Empire meeting will be marked by straight talking. Indeed, one dominion delegate remarked that things were shaping for a show-down. There is such a carry-over of subjects directly affecting tbe Empire that to all intents and purposes the next fortnight will be an unofficial Imperial Conference. Prom Major Elliot’s speeches, supplemented- by numerous questions in the House of Commons, it is more than probable that the dominions will be confronted by a new appeal to regulate exports' for the sake of the British agriculturists. A ‘ Sun ’ service message says it is understood that Mr Thomas’s attitude towards the dominions lately is deeply resented by the dominion delegates, who are likely strongly to criticise him at Monday’s meeting. They have already informally protested against his implications in the House of Connuons against the dominions. , The council of the National Farmers’ Union passed a resolution emphasising the urgency of an immediate understanding with tiie dominions regarding dairy quotas and regulation of meat imports, as the home producer is entitled to first place on the homo market.