FOOD CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 May 1943, Page 5

FOOD CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION

WASHINGTON, May 20.

The New Zealand delegation, is among the most active at the United Nations Food Conference at Hot Springs. Mr. T. A. Duncan has been appointed chairman of the sub-com-mittee dealing with the improvement of agricultural marketing, processing and distribution. The New Zealanders presented a memorandum outlining the possibilities and limitations of the conference, and stating New Zealand’s success in guaranteeing prices in order lo save farmers from periodical slumps. The memorandum is described as one of the most interesting yet received. Many delegates have shown keen interest "in New Zealand’s proved methods of Government grading instruction and inspection of farm products and the development of dairy co-operative companies.

N.Z. PROPOSALS OUTLINED

WASHINGTON, May 20

The New Zealand delegation to the food conference has released a memorandum in which they state that general trade and monetary policies are relevant to the purpose of the food conference inasmuch as the problem ot malnutrition is a problem of poverty. The memorandum, also warned against the scrapping of war-time controls too hastily, since the planned increase of production will be difficult unless it is based on stability of market value. . Outlining the scope of the permanent organisation which the food conference should establish, the memorandum suggests: — (1.) The submission of recommendations to ah the Allied Governments for the production of commodities required for post-war relief; (2) the collaboration of the International Labour Office to improve living standards; (3). the examination of the possibility ol international measures to augment purchasing power, including provisions for social security, family allowances, etc. The memorandum finally raises the question of. whether a permanent organisation emanating from the food conference, such as an international food office, should not be confined to foodstuffs, leaving wool and cotton to be covered by separate organisations. However, all commodity organisations should be integrated in one international economic authority. . Mr. Richard Law. chairman ol the British delegation, declared that Britain favoured post-war international action to eliminate the wide fluctuations of prices of basic agricultural and non-agricultural products. However, Mr. Law did not. suggest specific methods of achieving price stability. Another British delegate, Mr. Robbins, emphasised that Britain did not favour price fixing. Rather, Britain preferred action designed to keep prices from swinging too high or too low. He added that it might be necessary to establish an international organisation to handle the price problem. The Associated Press says it. is doubtful whether the food conference will “o as far as suggesting a method of establishing price stability, inasmuch as the heads of several delegations urged that the conference should limit, its recommendations to general principles, leaving ways "and means to future discussions.