N.Z. DAIRY EXPORTS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1933, Page 5

N.Z. DAIRY EXPORTS

BRITISH QUOTAS

■MR BAXTER REVIEWS POSITION. (United Press Association—By F'.ectrio Telegraph—Copyright) , LONDON, November 28. At the Empire Society’s luncheon, Mr Thomas Baxter, in an interesting way, described his discussion with dairy farmers in New Zealand. . He thought that the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board looked upon their business more from the factory side than from the farmers’ side, and were •interested chiefly in getting the largest number of tons through the factory. He admitted New Zealand’s prosperity was dependent on pastoral products. Therefore her difficulty was real, but he wa 6 quite sure that, .until some regulation of dairy produce w?-s adopted, and the insane practice of throwing Dominion and foreign produce on this market was stopped, there could be no rise in prices. Therefore he hoped soon to have some co-operation between the Dominion farmers and the British.

Incidentally, he mentioned that laist summer his wife was 'buying New Zealand butter delivered at her home for 8d per pound, while he paid a shilling a pound for grease for his motor car and fetched dt himself. This was because some commonisense. was used in . marketing greas-t, he said.

The National Farmers’ Union have •asked the Government to seek an understanding with the Dominions, in respect to quantitative regulation of cheese and other dairy produce imports, with immediate legislation compelling importers of milk products to pay a levy to form a. .fund to compensate British dairy farmers.

The Union ■ contends .that the levy does not violate the Ottawa agreement, ,as it already applies to milk marketing.

N.Z. DAIRY BOARD REPLIES,

LONDON. November 28.

The London office of the New Zea land Dairy Produce Board, in reply to Mr Baxter, says that the chief object of the Ottawa' agreements ia to stimulate (Empire trade. Empire restriction is .a direct negation thereof. Britain wa s entitled to increase her exports of manufactures to' New Zealand, but it was essential the Dominion’s purchasing power should be maintained °r increased. The Board does riot' think artificial restriction of the dairy output raiseg the power to purchase British goods. It is proved jbeyond question that increased prosperity in the Dominions was reflected immediately in increased imports from Britain.