QUOTA ON EXPORTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 294, 9 November 1934, Page 2

QUOTA ON EXPORTS.

HINT AS TO POSSIBILITIES

(By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. Continuing his references to the negotiations at present proceeding in London regarding quantities of food imports, in the House of Representatives to-day, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said New Zealand had to consider the question of a definite quantitative restriction.

Mr AV. J. Poison: In order to give immediate assistance to tho industry it is necessary to have some organisation.

Mr Coates: Definitely. No matter how necessary it is to give assistance to tho dairy farmer or to any agriculturalist, it would be very unwise to do so until we are able to handle it. The position is that we may be called on at any moment to consider the question of quantities. It may be quite wrong to bring this into the discussion, but prejudicial remarks have been made and they were that this has been forced upon us. It was not. The tiling is that a clear-cut decision was niado after most careful calculations as to whether it would be wise to do this to-day. The best interests of New Zealand have, not been served because we have been hostile to Great Britain and have not tried to meet her conditions and to meet the sterling market. The Minister added that the changes which had taken place in the world as far as New Zealand’s primary products were concerned were not of New Zealand’s making. Other countries had placed limits on what they would take. For instance, Germany took 250,000 cases of apples from New Zealand last year, but not one this year. Wliat would the effect of that bo? It could only cause these commodities to increase on the sterling market.

Dealing with the position as far as subsidies were concerned, the Minister said that if- a subsidy were paid the moment that there was a change in the market price there would be a rush of commodities to that market, and everything would be upset. Mr AV. Nash: But you can deal with that.

Mr Coates: Yes, but we have not got as far as that yet. Tho Minister added that there was a strong public feeling in New Zealand in favour of going back to the old policy of laisscz faire, hut the Government wanted to try and meet the difficulties that existed in this and other countries. Something had to be done, and he did not care how it was done as long as it was done. The country was definitely into the period of control, and other countries had gone further.