We Can’t Restrict

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7211, 18 July 1933, Page 7

We Can’t Restrict

Acting-Chairman of Dairy Board, Speaks Out Policy ol Free Entry Both Ways Advocated A policy of free entry into New Zealand for the manufactures of Great Britain in return for a free entry for all the Dominion’s produce, was advocated by Mr. Dynes Fulton, acting chairman of the Dairy Produce Board, when speaking to dairy company directors in Palmerston North yesterday.

“It is hardly satisfactory to see the feeling that exists between the manufacturers and producers of New Zealand,” said Mr. Fulton. “We must

BRITAIN’S INTENTION TO INCREASE OUTPUT MAJOR ELLIOT EXPLAINS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 15. The proposal of the Polish delegation in tho Economic Sub-Commission to set up a sub-committee to consider the need for an international organisation for the improvement of marketing conditions of dairy products was approved yesterday. During the discussion Major Elliot, the United Kingdom delegate, said that Britain took 80 per cent, of the world’s butter exports, and 50 per cent, of the cheese exports. The United Kingdom was also a largo producing, although not an exporting country, and was thus affected by the existing world's surplus of butter and dairy products. Ho mado clear the Government’s intention to incrcaso the output of dairy products. There wero no meetings to-day of Conference committees, but work will be continued on Monday, when meetings will include one of the drafting committee of the sub-commission on subsidies and shipping.

realise fully that as far as manufactur-

ing is concerned in New Zealand, we

don’t get very much assistance from it

and I am speaking on broad and general principles. If our national debt had to be met by the manufacturing taking place in this country, there would not be a possible hope of our standing solid. We are dependent entirely on the land—our butter, sheep, wool, cheese, etc. I am afraid Major Elliot at Homo, does not realise the position of the New Zealand people and the conditions that are existing here as our prosperity depends almost entirely on the produce of tho soil. We have gradually increased our output and are a long way from being fully developed. Consequently, it makes mo shudder to think that there is a possibility of our production being restricted. “I cannot see how our activities can be restricted,” the speaker added, “unless we take some drastic step such as closing down all factories for two or three months in tho year. What would happen then?” he asked. “You would find farmers making their own butter and selling their milk and thus ruining the local trade.”

TARIFF AND QUOTA NO CONNECTION BETWEEN TWO SUBJECTS Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 17. The Acting Prime Minister, Mr Coates, to-day received a cablegram from Mr Forbes, in which the latter says: Major Elliott's statement in the House of Commons has apparently been misinterpreted. Mr Forties states:— “Ho definitely 6tated to me that tho trade position has no hearing whatever on the quota proposal and it is entirely a matter of interest- ito the United Kingdom farmers who are strongly pressing for restrictions on the importation of butter and cheese from abroad, which is glutting tho market and hearing down prices. “The treatment by New Zealand of British manufacturers, •so far as tho tariff is concerned, '’considered to be , fully satisfactory by the British "authorities and has at no time been raised in connection with tho discussions that have taken place.”

He said it was impossible to curtail production and onco produce was manufactured they could not afford to throw it away. Many farms now were being run at a loss. If New Zealand farmers were restricted the whole policy under which New Zealand had been run would havo to be reviewed.

“If wo are going to bo restricted in our activities we will not be ablo to pay our debts to Great Britain” (hear, hear). “Then,” added tho speaker, “we have our young boys coming on and what are wo to do with them if farming activities are to bo curtailed? The cities and their professions aro already full and where better can we send them than on to the land? That alone is a tangible reason why wc should oppose restrictions.”

Mr. Fulton said New Zealand was living in a state of emergency because if the national debt was called up, the country could not pay it. To bo in a state of cmorgency was the next worst thing to being in a stato of war and when Britain had to face war in 1914 sho did not go to Denmark and Poland for assistance. Sho expected the colonies to help her and they did. During tho Great War Britain paid as high as 3s lOd a pound for foreign butter and only as high as 2s 6d for the New Zealand produce. As a matter of fact had it been necessary, New Zealand would have given it free. However, in return for a free entry for her products, Groat Britain should take all tho jirimary products New Zealand could offer (hear, hoar). It was not fair that Now Zealand should be put on tho same footing as ioroign countries. Mr. Fulton said he was afraid the people at Home did not havo tho right perspective. He thought there was moro behind the situation than tho farmers of Great Britain who only produced from 40,000 to 45,000 tons ol butter annually.

In withdrawing from tho Tariff Commission on Friday, Mr A. E. Mander, representative of tho N.Z. Manufacturers’ Federation, quoted the following extract from a newspaper report of an address by Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., president, to tho conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union:— “A definite statement had been made by a British Minister that if New Zealand did not reduce tariffs the Dominion would be subject firstly, to a preferential duty, and secondly, to a restriction of New Zealand imports into Great Britain.” Mr Mander contended that, in view of this statement, it was useless making further representations to tho Commission. DUNEDIN PROTEST Per Press Association DUNEDIN, Last Night. A large meeting of Dunedin manufacturers protested against the statement made by iff. W. J. Poison. M.P., President of the Farmers’ Union, and his suggestions that a tariff reduction should bo mado before the Commission’s report i 3 issued. A resolution was passed endorsing tho Federation’s action in postponing further evidence before tho Commision until an assurance wa3 given that there would be no interference with the Commission’s functions and also supporting the telegram sent by the Federation President to Hon. J. G. Coates.

BUMPER HARVEST AT HOME United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Monday, 8.45 p.m. LONDON, July 17. Tho Daily Express says British farmers aro likely to havo tho best harvest in ten years. There aro 1,500,000 acres sown in wheat and other sowings arc: Barley 890,000 acres, oats 1,580,000, peas and beans 270,000, and sugarbeet 356,000 acres.