Dominions’ Farmers ‘Must Get Together”

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 5

Dominions’ Farmers ‘Must Get Together”

SUPPLIES TO UNITED KINGDOM SYDNEY, April 5. The agreement reached at the Empire Producers’ Conference is regarded as a compromise on the -proposals made by Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, following a conference of leaders of the delegations. Mr. W. W. Mulholland (New Zealand), in moving a series of resolutions whicii were ultimately carried, said that the getting together of the Empire producers in effective organisations might and could mean a very great deal to them. The Empire was so situated that it was particularly fortunate in having a year-round supply of the most important produce it consumed, but it was not so fortunately situated in regard to the actual marketing of produce. Naturally there will be a continuous supply of all products going to the United Kingdom market in a stream very closely approximating the market demand. Actually in one season there were oversupplies and in another lesser supplies, with the result that quite frequently the price that the producer received was depressed. However, no advantage accrued to the consumer because almost invariably market movements resulted in the appearance of speculators, who took up the slack and made quite a bit of money out of it. It is therefore in the interests of the consumer, as well as the producer, that I supplies to the United Kingdom market should be regulated. There was also the point that a regulated market could absorb more than one in which supplies fluctuated. It was also important that the regulation of supplies should be handled by the producers in the producers' l.f crests. ; There had to be a "get together" movement among the ers which would take some little time to accomplish, but while that was a difficulty he did not wish to minimise, he did not think it was a difficulty v. hich could not be overcome. REVISION OF TARIFFS URGED "NEW ERA OF GOODWILL" Received Wednesday, 12.5 a.m. SYDNEY,, April 5. The Empire Producers’ Conference passed a resolution urging Empire Governments to re-examine their tariff policies in foreigu and imperial trade treaty commitments with a view to making adjustments which might be followed by foreign countries to the benefit of Empire products. The conference also agreed to a resolution urging a revival of international trade to meet the needs of primaiy producers and assist the promotion of world peace. Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, leader of the British delegation, when acknowledging the gift of a polished mulga inkstand, expressed the opinion that the conference had started a new era of co-operation and goodwill. Similar gifts were made to the New Zealand and other visiting delegations.