Opportunity Lost by Dominion

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 42, 20 February 1939, Page 7

Opportunity Lost by Dominion

Regulated Meat Shipments REASON FOR RESTRICTIONS Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. "me announcement oi me reduction in the meat export quotas should cau># every New Zealander to think deeply,” said Mr W. J. Poison, president of tht New Zealand Primary and Antilhuy Industries Producers' Council, in an Interview. ‘‘Everything predicted by the British delegation to the Empire Producers’ Council in Sydney has come true, and it is now quite evident that Sir Reginald Dorman-Smiths statement at that time expressed the views of the Government. “The British delegation agreed that, if the Dominions consented to cooperate in the commodity council scheme to regulate shipment, th# British farmers would do their utmost to avoid restrictions on Dominion produce. The Dominions failed to grasp the opportunity, and it may now be too lata “The New Zealand delegation at Sydney scored a great victory in obtaining a scheme where restrictions were not envisaged by the British delegates, and obtained a great moral advantage for New Zealand in the offer of a separate commodity council for mutton and lamb. This advantage should have been followed up, and it may not be too late yet to obtain it.”

In his opinion, New Zealand should endeavour to work In with the new British Minister of Agriculture, since he had given his word that in that case he would try to avoid restrictions.

Mr Poison said he was sure the new restrictions were not retaliation for New Zealand's import control regulations, but were the result of New Zealand's failure to take the steps ths British Government had hinted wers possible in a manner considered necessary to preserve the stability not only of British farmers but of Empire agriculture.