IMPORT CONTROL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 63, 15 February 1939, Page 2

IMPORT CONTROL

FARMERS’ VIEWPOINT

IMPERIAL UK ACT J UXS. The Import Control Regulations were tlie subject of discussion at a meeting of the Wellington provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, at Marton yesterday. The following resolution was carried: “That, while wo recognise that some trade restriction may be necessary owing to the economic position of the country brought about bv the policy of the Government, we affirm our conviction that our economic salvation docs not lie in the present policy of the Government, and we believe that a curtailment of public expenditure is necessary to rehabilitate the Dominion’s financial position.” Mr Lloyd Hammond (president) stated that the Ottawa Agreement was ol paramount importance to the fanning community, for the preservation of the spirit of that agreement meant a great deal to the primary industry. This aspect of the regulations was giving concern to the primary producer, and lie understood that the I Iritis!) Hoard of Trade was negotiating with flic Minister of Finance regarding the regulations and their possible effect on trade with the Dominion. He suggested that unless that satisfaction was forthcoming it would mean the breaking of the Ottawa Agreement, which would have fatreaching consequences in relation to our export trade to the Mother Country

Apparently, said Mr Hammond, the M mister of Finance proposed to pay off the £17,000,000 loan due in Emrland this year out of the proceeds of our exports. This would mean that the normal proeeedure of buying goods with that money would not prevail.

Mr D. Kilgour (Apiti) anticipated that similar trouble would follow in England in the event of a Labour success at the next British elections. Labour candidates were wooing the country votes, and the Conservative Party in England was very much alarmed at the situation. Another point, said Mr Hammond, was that the British Beef Council had recently taken over the control of mutton and lamb. He was. aware that the Now Zealand Meat Board viewed with some apprehension this action.

Mr D. G. Gordon drew attention to a recent cable from England announcing that the Minister of Agriculture would enforce restrictions on meat imports from the Dominions. The mutton position in Now Zealand was serious, and he thought that some effortshould be made by tlie Meat Board to seek out a market on the Continent for* our lowest-priced meat—owe mutton.

It was agreed to recommend to the Dominion executive that it go into the possibilities of trading some of our cheaper moat on the Continent on a barter system for potash manures.