OTTAWA CONFERENCE AND THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 25 May 1932, Page 6

OTTAWA CONFERENCE AND THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

(To the Editor.) ••A Sioux and his squaw from Dakota Were asked what they thought of the quota From their speech which was queer And uncouth to the ear

They seemed not to care an iota. (“Punch,” December 30, 19310

Sir —I think this about sums up the general attitude of the public to the coming Ottawa Conference despite the possibility that the repercussions from this important meeting of Empire Statesmen and advisers may have a: very far reaching e tie ot on the dairy and meat industries of this country. Before the delegates leave for the Conference, it is surely important that the dairy and aiilied industries should immediately consider the quota proposition from every 7 possible angle, lestj support be prematurely given to proposals inimical to the ibest interests of this country 7. If the scheme submitted to the Conference by the United Kingdom representatives absorbs the whole of our blitter and cheese under a 10 per cent, preference and our delegates can satisfy the United Kingdom with a quid pro quo ill United Kingdom products, then presumably, no change of any kind need be made in the present marketing conditions, and freedom to sell c.i.f. or send on open consignment, will continue, through the present importing and wholesale channels. In the absence of any knowledge of the proposals which the United Kingrl.rym ropre.sentatrv'es may decide ±*o place before the Conference, the following propositions may be worth considering : A. What ;s to be our attitude if the United Kingdom offers to accept free of duty only 85 per cent, of our butter and all our cheese, and how is it intended to apportion this quota of butter to Ne.w Zealand factories.? B. What will we do with the remaining 15 per cent, of butter, if shut out by the United Kingdom? C. What further preference are we prepared to give to United Kingdom products ? D. If the extent of our preference is insufficient to satisfy United Kingdom’s needs, will our representatives accept a lower quota? E. Will our delegates support the scheme if it involves sending all our dairy 7 produce forward to United Kingdom on open consignment? E. Does the quota system involve arbitrary control of New Zealand produce and- fixation of prices by some Government body in the Uniter,! Kingdom in co-ordination with representatives in London of the N.Z. Dairv Board ?

G. If it does, then how is ft proposed to deal with factories which prefer to sell f.o.b. or c.i.f. for whole or part of their produce? 11. Will the N.Z. Dairy Board continue to regulate shipments, or will monthly arrivals be governed by the British authorities.

The sub-committee set up by the Imperial Conference of 193 Q to consider the butter quota system, import boards, and bulk purchasing schemes, comprised eleven representatives from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Irish Free State and New Zealand under the chairmanship of Mi- A. W. Street, 0.1. E. New Zealand was represented by Dr. G. Craig, G.M.G.L.L.D., and Mr W. Ferguson. This committee’s findings indicate that the application of a) quota scheme would be a fairly involved process, and they 7 further state that if an Import Board were constituted they estimate it would be necessary to "have a standing credit of about £5,000,000 for butter alone. It seems to me that no scheme will benefit us which does not allow all our produce- to be exported to the United Kingdom and provide for the continued expansion of the dairy industry in this country. To what extent are we prepared to give way to obtain from the United Kingdom this preference? The whole question should be seriously considered by every dairy factory directorate in New Zealand and their opinions trail smitted to the Government. —l am etc., ’

J- T. MARTIN. Wellington, May 20, 1932.