N.Z. Makes New Proposals: Sale Of Food Produce

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 October 1950, Page 7

N.Z. Makes New Proposals: Sale Of Food Produce

LONDON. October 2.—The British Minister of Food (Mr Maurice Webb) has received sympathetically a suggestion by, the New Zealand DeputyPrime Minister and Minister of Marketing (Mr K. J. Holyoake) that future bulk food agreement price negotiations between the two countries should be based upon an agreed formula which will take into consideration all the various factors likely to influence both producers and consumers.

Mr Holyoake told Mr Webb that the outcome of .the recent New Zealand dairy produce price negotiations in London has caused considerable disappointment in New Zealand. He suggested that when the matter is reopened it should be approached upon some basis other than a point-blank refusal by Britain to pay higher prices, because it is convinced that there is now a buyers’ market for dairy produe. Mr Holyoake suggested that an attempt should be made to arrive at some ofrmula which would provide a better basis for negotiation and which would do something to prevent a deadlock such as that which now exists on this year’s dairy produce prices. . Mr Webb has promised to consider these arguments and has also indicated that the British authorities will be prepared to consider New Zealand s next long-term dairy produce aggrement with Britain earlier than 195 a, which was previously the earliest date at which it could be discussed. He also said that he was agreeable to the uncompleted talks upon meat prices being reopened in London immediately. It is understood that the British authorities are ready to consider an extension of the present long-term agreements for both meat and dairy produce beyond the present sevenyear term.