WILL THERE BE A BUTTER QUOTA?

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 July 1933, Page 7

WILL THERE BE A BUTTER QUOTA?

Strong Agitation in Britain. Messrs Forbes and Masters Getting Uneasy. Special to-the United Press Assn., New Zealand. Received Wednesday, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, July 11. The increasing advocacy of the quota principle as a means of raising the level of produce prices is causing Messrs. Forbes and Masters considerable concern. Sir Austen Chamberlain, Mr. Walter Runciman and Sir Cunliffe Lister have each spoken in favour of a system of control over the production of foodstuffs, though stating that plans in this direction would require the support of a large number of producing countries. Major Elliot (Minister of Agriculture) is a-particularly strong advocate of regulation of production and exports on the part of supplying countries as a means of raising prices to British farmers. In a recent speech he said despite the 20 per cent, tariff 18,000 tons more butter were supplied to Britain than for the-same period last year. In submitting the Agricultural. Estimate to the Commons to-day he sought to show that the application of quotas to meat, bacon, wheat and hops had undoubtedly raised prices to the British producers. The Conference sub-committees so far have considered the application of quotas to wheat, wine, sugar, coal and wood, but now Poland has "submitted a draft resolution to the Conference Committee on the co-ordination of production and marketing that the Governments of butter-exporting countries should set up without delay an International Dairy Council: — (1) To study the means of reducing competition between such countries in general and on rationed markets in particular. (2) To ensure better distribution throughout the year, and eliminating gluts at certain seasons on certain markets. (3) To study the possibilities of better international standardisation. This resolution has yet to be dealt with Mr. Forbes and Mr. Masters are in close consultation with the chairmen of the New Zealand Produce Boards and are holding frequent meetings with the British Cabinet. BLACK TREACHERY TO PUT MEN ON LAND. WITHOUT SURE MARKET, SAYS MAJOR ELLIOT, s Received Wednesday, 9 p.m. LONDON, July 11. In the House of Commons, Major Elliott, 'Minister of Agriculture, representing the Agriculture Department Estimates, said that only 1100 men had settled on the land Jn the last six years, 7 It would be black treachery both to the settlers and those already farming to place more men on the land, when they were not sure of a market for tfye produce. ‘ He wondered whether the House realised how tremendous and ruthless was the experiment on which the United States launched.last week. A tax of 30 cents, a bushel, equal to about 10s a quarter, was imposed on wheat on the top of the existing tax of 42 cents, a bushel. The loaf had already gone up in New York by 20 per cent., and a further 10 per cent, increase was expected. The value of Britain’s total wheat supplies was £42,900,000, of which the home supply was £6,900,000. Under the Wfceat Quota Act, British growers received £2,500,000, The scheme had worked with smoothness and certainty, and had now become part of the agricultural machinery of the country. Major Elliot said the Department of Industry was examining plans for the rationing of production. Meat prices were still unsatisfactory and justified the arrangements made to redifc-e importations of chilled beef by 19,000 tons. Supplies of Australian and New Zealand frozen mutton and lamb were already subject to a 20 per cent, cut which would be increased to 25 per cent, next quarter, -The dairy produce situation was causing grave concern. • This year 18,000 tons more butter were put on the market than last year. The price of the Dominion’s butter had fallen from 105 s to 755, showing the necessity for regulating overseas supplies as they desired to do with home production.