The Gisborne Times SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1934. THE QUOTA “ARMISTICE.”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 12263, 26 May 1934, Page 4

The Gisborne Times SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1934. THE QUOTA “ARMISTICE.”

There does not appear to be any fresh development of any consequence in connection with the quota problem. It is interesting to' note, however, that the Meat Board seems to be much less perturbed than tho Dairy Board, which, to-day, owing to Government intervention, is (as. it wore) under a cloud.. In general, the position is that, until the Ottawa agreements expire, the Home authorities must stick To itie bargains that wore • entered intOc ; The Meat Board has, of course, done something which the Dairy Bonifd has never attempted—without going too far, it ha.s adopted a conciliatory policy. Perhaps such a line of ac-

tion may proves to ii-ave been profitable. At' all events, Mr. Jones, chairman of the Meat Board, is fair--ly/onfident that/ during the bala/ce- of the tor« of the agreements, /ho Home; authorities will not .sug-’go-st further restrictions iupoir supplies ofi meat from this Dominion, except, maybe, in the case of heel. This , year New Zealand’s exports •of beef have been considerably greater than wa s the position last year. For the seven months ended April 30, the shipments included 236,837 quarters, compared with a total of 152,441 quarters for the corresponding period of 1932-33. In addition, there has this year been the new item of 11,160 quarters of chilled beef. The shipments of boneless beet have, too, been appreciably greater this year. As far as can be made out, there is every likelihood that the problem in regard to meat supplies will be cleared up within.a few weeks, seeing that, next month, important discussions on the matter live scheduled, to take place in . London. Tile position in regard to dairy produce i s now, seemingly, one of stalemate. Having agreed to grant a subsidy on manufactured milk to ensure an agreed upon minimum return to her own domesticsuppliers, Britain has dropped her suggestion that this Dominion should accept a quota in respect of her supplies meantime. The" British official version of the matter is “that accordingly, the • question is not now an immediate one, as far as we are concerned” ! ft would, of course, not have assisted Hip Home dairy farmers very much if this Dominion alone had agreed drastically to curtail her supplies of butter and choose. Under a policy of curtailment affecting all supplies from overseas —foreign as well as Empire produce an appreciable' scarcity could, however, have been effected. That heavier sales at higher wholesale and retail values would, in such an event, have resulted is not by any means certain. Such a policy would not be relished by British housewives and they would, assuredly, retaliate by concentrating upon cheap blonds of butter and upon margarine. I n thi s connection, it may safely he assumed that the margarine manufacturers are strongly entrenched behind the quota movement and tile effort to false butter values! One fact that must not be lost sight of is, therefore, that drastic restrictions upon supplies from the Dominions will not pave the way for an expanding market, even if such a policy should result in wholesale values being slightly raised at Home, if a more extensive market, together with improved prices. is to be secured, foreign supplies will iequire to be severely cut down and, in addition, the British housewife will need to he given greater purchasing power. The policy which the British Minister for Agriculture would like to see adopted—the creation of higher values bv means of cutting down Empire ns well as foreign supplies—is as unfair to the general body of consumers at Home as if is to those engaged in the dairying industry in the Dominions