A SUSPENDED OCTUPUS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 August 1933, Page 6

A SUSPENDED OCTUPUS.

PECULIAR BUT APT SIMILE.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRODUCE QUOTA PROPOSAL.

WHAT BECOMES OF NEW ZEALAND BUTTER?

One of the more important questions dealt with by the Farmers' Union conference, and mentioned at the llanawatu executive meeting on Saturday by its President (Mr J. A. McLeavey), was that of the threatened imposition of quotas on imports of New Zealand produce into Britain. He said that the delegates had seemed to be unanimous in opposing the principle. He added that he liked the way that the Hon. R. Masters 'had been handling the position during his visit to the Old Country, and thought that the Minister had said all that could be said on the question. '' Why are we not British farmers, just as much as the men in the Old Country?" the Chairman asked. Mr Kent: Then why tax the produce with 25 per cent, exchange rate? The Chairman: I am not talking about the exchange rate. Mr K«nt: It is affected by that.

The Chairman went on to say that the pioneers had come 12,000 miles to settle in New Zealand. Was it right that their descendants should drop the Home market. Britain had not sought' to put a quota on New Zealand exports during the War; the farmers of this country were British farmers then. As' to tariffs, there was a feeling in the Union that these should be arranged ns much as possible in favour of the Old Country. In Japan, workers were being paid as low as a shilling a day. How could British workers compete with that? Mr Jensen remarked that, even if New Zealand enjoyed a free market in England, it did not mean that she had freedom of trade there after the produce arrived. As soon as it landed, its identity was lost. "We have been told," he said, "that when we tried the .so-called control, we were squashed and were -not allowed to do with our produce as we thought fit. We ought to have the freedom to market our own produce." The Chairman: Hear, hear.

Mr Jensen: We should have the freedom to market without interference by the people at Home. We ought to have that broken down, that octopus which they are hanging over us.

The Chairman: That is a matter which the farmers ought to have looked into years ago—marketing their own butter. The factories should get together and arrange a proper system of marketing, their goods there.

Mr Kent observed that Denmark had a proper marketing system. "I think we will put the quota on ourselves," said the Chairman. "If wool and meat prices keep good, a lot of dairymen will go in for sheep. The milking of .many cows will be discontinued 'because it will not pay to feed them. We must ask our factories and our leading public men to get together and see if they cannot overcome these difficulties.