The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1931. THE HOME MARKET

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1934, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1931. THE HOME MARKET

A more pleasing turn appears to have been given to the stand taken by Great Britain on oversea trading, by the remarks of Mr Malcolm MacDonald at Ohristcjhurch on Saturday. Air MacDonald is the Under-Secretary for the Dominions in the House of Commons, and his official position gives his visit a special interest to the oversea countries. Air MacDonald while in the Dominion has spoken also o n Empire immigration, and is disposed to do what he can to pave the way for the resumption of immigration as /soon las conditions permit. On Saturday-, however he explained that ho had found misconceptions in certain quarters in New ■Zealand regarding thef wording -of Great Britain’s policy of regulation of primary'products imported to the Home market. Ho began by explaining that it was not the intention to go in for -a large scale agricultural development at Home with the intention of makiim the country selfsupporting as far a s foodstuffs were coin-.ernled. The ij-ev-on for the intended regulation, he explained, was to- raise price levels from their present. depressed -basis, and so make it possible far the British farmer to sell his goods at an economic, price. Tt w"’,s ’'exported ‘by the pl"n th«t farmers throughout, the world would he’-'Tit also, ami with more money become hotter consumers. Nor would the regulation he anplied equally to the foreigner and the oversea Briton. The latter would h°ve the first oon-sidenti-n-n always. He asserted that the spirit of Ottawa was still the ’guiding nrincinV) of Britain, hud under it the policy would he moulded. They bad to face a. condition of uneconomic prices, and if.that s.p—>tien Aould lie 'handled' satisfactorily all would benefit. Bv re gu la tine imnorts it \va« hoped, to benefit the nriee level, hut there would be no attempt to

foster a largo scale agricultural development at Home. The move would be helpful ail round, for the Dominion farmers now were suffering by the low prices. On analysing the position it had in turn found that low prices "ere the main causes of the banners’ plight, and the desire was to restore purchasing power to the primary producer for his and the benefit of trading generally. There were to be restrictions or foreign imports, and a s much of the burden as possime would go in that direction. The policy was intended to be as fair as possible to the '-oversea Dominions. This explanation throws some -light on the position, but it is manifest the market at Home will be less accesible. At the same time, there is the hope of lifting prices, but it weald appear -on the face of it. that will not increase consumption directly. The situation is a very nice one, and.it is something to have the British viewpoint first hand. It may be assumed that Mr MacDonald will return "’ell saturated with the New Zealand viewpoint, and as that is very definite it is well it should be expressed in the proper quarter without misunderstanding. '