THE QUOTA QUESTION

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1933, Page 8

THE QUOTA QUESTION

Ever since the first mention of the possibility of restrictions being placed upon New Zealand’s exports of dairy produce into Britain, there has existed a suspicion that things were not quite what they seemed. This suspicion" has not been lessened with the passage of time, .and (those who have been giving the matter careful thought cannot, hut be mystified. At. the outset, it was stated that the .need for the imposition of restrictions was due entirely to the fact that an over-supply of imported butter into Britain had reduced prices to such an extent that the British

agrilniltiWisf was Tabecl Avifu -fliin unless protection was accorded to him. This protection, it was 'held, could best be provided by imposing a quotk upon overseas supplies., Ground has shifted since the first announcement, and it has become apparent, that the industrialists of Britain, as well as the agriculturists, have ' exerted influence upon the Home Government. This, of course, is a natural corollary of the Ottawa Agreement; • under the terms of which New Zeaaud undertook to j grant substantial preference to British manufactures. Somethin gu has. Jieo.R. done, in this respect, • but it cannot be claimed that New Zealand has yet. carried out the obligation to which its representatives, at Ottawa pledged it. Developments at the Tariff Commission’s session yesterday, when the manufacturers’ representatives asked permission to suspend 1111 arrangements for the taking, of further evidence on their behalf, have thrown this aspect of the question into/bold relief. -The manufacturers’ nation was based on a report (made by Mr Poison, President of the Farmers’ Union, and since repudiated by Major Elliott, Britj ain’s,Minister of Agriculture) that }a responsible. British, statesman had. said -that unless New Zealand pursued,a policy of. reducing Customs, duties against British commodities, the Dominion’s products would.be subject to preferential.: duties and a quota. Acquiescence in this‘demand, winch would probably take the form of removal of duties, would undoubtedly mean the disappearance of the majority of New Zealand’s: secondary .industries. Whether,.- such a happening can be contemplated(-with composure is a matter uppji ,which (.there, is marked division., of opinion. That there is urgent, need fpr an unrestricted market overseas for New Zealand’s dairy produce is. a matter upon / which there is unanimous agreement. At, the same time, if it tie true, as was originally stated,, that the Dominion is already sending to Britain more butter and cheese than can he sold at. a payable price, the average man will be. excused for wondering how the free admission of British goods into the Dominion will make it possible for the people of Britain so to increase, their, consumption., pfbutter and. ‘ cheese as. to make possibl e ~th e, mirestrlcted expor i of ..New , Zealand’s primary commodities. He will also be. excused for wondering whether * the Home' in ark et bas really reached saturation point, as has been alleged. The situation which has been created is indeed interesting, and its development will, be watched closely.