MUTUAL TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 21709, 2 May 1934, Page 9

MUTUAL TRADE

BRITAIN AND THE DOMINIONS THE RESTRICTION PROPOSALS press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 1. The ‘Daily Telegraph’ says: “As long ago as December' Mr Thomas indicated to New Zealand his willingness sympathetically to consider proposals for mutual development of trade, pointing out that the British Government had already embarked on a policy involving planned marketing of agricultural products. Ho had to remind the New Zealand Government in March that the failure of the negotiations for quantitative regulation of butter imports was due to the reluctance of New Zealand ami Australia to co-operate in any general scheme. Tho British Government, with the dominions in that frame of mind, had to turn to other plans for assistance for the British farmer. Mr Lyons, the Australian Prime Minister, is now seeking to escape a similar difficulty for Australia by announcing that the Government is considering the possibilities of other markets, and that enterprise deserves success. It is not from lack of warm feeling for the dominions or failure to recognise the difficulties that partial loss of any market would impose on them that tho British Government adheres to its present policy. Any arrangement possible, outside the sacrifice of our agricultural population, will always receive a welcome from Britain.” AUSTRALIA EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES . STATEMENT BY MR LYONS. SYDNEY, May 1. In a speech at Hurstville, a Sydney suburb, Mr J. A. Lyons (Prime Minis-' ter) said: “The Commonwealth Government has always been opposed to tho policy of restriction of production and export, and will not institute regulation of butter and meat unless it is absolutely necessary. The Government, however, saw the virtue of preparing for that necessity, which might arise because of the policies of other countries, including the United Kingdom. I have a feeling that there is a crisis ahead. The Government is therefore' considering, first, means of organising Australia’s primary industries to meet the position; secondly, a basis for consultation with other countries; thirdly, the possibilities of finding other markets in the event of the British market being able to purchase butter and other goods below Australia’s capacity -to produce them. The Government is already engaged in the taSk of bargaining on a wide scale with foreign markets, and will energetically explore every alternative to acceptance of the policy of restriction or regulation of exports.” QUESTIONS IN COMMONS MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION. ' (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 1. (Received May 2, at 11.30 a.m.) In the House of Commons Mr W. Ruuciman (President of the Board of Trade) replied to a series of questions regarding the increase in the imports of various commodities from foreign countries over particular periods, and asking what ,action he would take to increase the imports of , these commodities from within the Empire. Mr Runciman pointed out that it was often misleading to consider by themselves statistics relating to specific and limited periods and specific countries. For instance, the wheat imports from Canada increased from 7,000,OOOcwt in the first three months of 1932 to nearly 14,000,000 cwt during the same period in 1933. In the case of oats, the increased imports from Russia. in the first three months of 1934 were more than offset by the reduced imports from the Argentine in the same period. As regards tho maize surplus available for export in Empire countries in 1933, the crops were unusually small, mainly owing to a short crop in South Africa. increased duties were imposed last January on oats and oat products from foreign countries, and in the case of most of tho other commodities mentioned the Empire countries had either full entry or preferential duties. Whilst no opportunity would be lost of developing inter-imperial trade, he could not contemplate discrimination against the produce of particular countries merely because the imports from those countries happened to show an increase in a particular period. THE OTTAWA AGREEMENTS EARLY CONSULTATIONS DESIRED. LONDON, May 1. (Received May 2, at 11.45 a.m.) The ‘ Sun ’ says it is understood that tho British Government desires early consultations in connection with the Ottawa agreements, particularly .moat, which agreement terminates on June 30, but it has not been decided whether to hold a miniature Ottawa or informal discussions with the dominion representatives stationed in London.