OTTAWA DUTIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 October 1932, Page 7

OTTAWA DUTIES

EMPIRE DAIRYING MARKET

COST OF LIVING EFFECTS

[BY CABLE —PRESS .ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

(Reed. October 29, Noon.) LONDON, October 2S.

In the Commons, Mr Tom Williams moved to omit from the Ottawa Bill, two shillings duty per quarter on wheat. This, added to the duties on cheese and butter, he said, would mean a real burden on the poor. Mr Hore Belisha said the object of the duty was to ensure a greater supply from the Empire, at the expense of the foreign. He hoped : that the Dominions would reciprocate by buying more. British manufactures. The consumer was amply protected by a provision that purchases must be at the world price. If the’ Dominions were unable to supply at that figure, the duty would be removed. The amendment was rejected by 200 to 51. “ ’ Mr Grenfell moved the omission of butter, cheese, eggs and milk, and contended that Britain could produce them as cheaply and efficiently as any country. The Dominions were already able to compete in the market. The duty would mean that many poor would be unable to buy butter. They were already buying less Danish and more of the cheaper and inferior Dominion. Mr Burgin ridiculed the idea of hardship on the poor. On the contrary, he said, it would prove mutually beneficial, with a controlled supply, giving the Empire an assured market. The amendment was rejected by 197 to 39. ■ > HOME INDUSTRY ENDANGERED (Rec. October 29, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. At the meeting of United Dairies Limited, Mr. Maggs (chairman) said the effect of the tariffs on dairy products had hitherto been negligible. The duties on butter had not influenced prices, owing to the increase in world production and the operation of the quotas in other importing countries, and Empire supplies entering our market free, or largely subsidised. “There appears to be a real danger that if New Zealand and Australia continue the present rate of increase in dairying for long, they will kill the Home manufacture of dairy produce, as they have already practically destroyed the sheep-farming industry,” he added. !

ANGLQ-FOREIGN NEGOTIATIONS. ' LONDON, October 27. Mr W. C. Runciman (President of the Board of Trade), in closing the second reading debate on the Ottawa Agreements Bill said that Britain’s recent import duties had had no effect on imports. Not a single European country had made a complaint. The British motor-car trade to New Zealand and India -was benefiting considerably. Discussions with Australia were proceeding. “Many members,” he said, “have .suggested that the Ottawa agreements would cripple us in making agreements with other countries, but instead we are already negotiating with five countries, and are ready to treat with the whole world, but we cannot deal with all of them at once. Britain as. a market and a centre of finance, is a' world force, and must remain the most important and vital part of the Empire. Her policy, as a creditor country, with investments inside and outside, is to cultivate commercial and financial freedom and activity, but this is limited by the policy of the rest of the world and ol the Dominions. We must build on the foundation of the Ottawa Agreements the prosperity of the whole Empire.” The Bill was read a second time by 346 votes to 77. S. AMERICAN MEAT. MONTE VIDEO, October 27. The Governments of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have agreed to renew' their negotiations which are designed to result in joint action in the meat export trade, and to present a .united front against the competition resulting from the Ottawa agreements.