STOCK EMBARGO

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 December 1935, Page 5

STOCK EMBARGO

MR FORBES’ EXPLANATION. [per press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 12. Regarding the stock embargo cable, Mr G. W. Forbes, in a. telephone conversation this evening, said that it was true that, before Lord Bledisloe left New Zealand, Mr Coates and he (Mr Forbes) went so- far as to say they were in favour of lifting the embargo on live stock, but they found that the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Macmillan), had promised to consult farmers’ organisations before anything was done. Lord Bledisloe was informed of this, and he was aware that the Government was waiting for the Minister’s advice after his consultations with farmers. When Mr Coates and he returned from England all thought of the embargo was smothered under pressure of work which had to be done. He believed Mr Macmillan never had been able to complete his consultation with farmers’ organisations. Mr Forbes repeated that, the statement made by Mr Coates and himself that they favoured lifting the embargo had to be qualified by the promise made to the farmers, and that Lord Bledisloe was aware of this.