Reduction May Not be Seriously Effective

Northern Advocate, 18 February 1939, Page 7

Reduction May Not be Seriously Effective

—ME MVLHOLLAND. [Per Press Association.--Copyright.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “The reduction may not be seriously effective,” commented Mr W. W. Mulholland, President of the New Zea-

land Farmers’ Union, in reference to the action of the British Government 4 regarding meat imports.

He said that the effect would probably not be serious this year. ./ The consequences to the Dominion of the restrictions would depend on the ultimate production. The indication had been that there would be some slight falling-off in production. Not a Heavy Reduction. “I do not think that three per cent will be regarded as being a heavy .reduction,” said Mr Mulholland. “Whether it is light or heavy depends on the season. If production gains 10 per cent., then all our stuff could not be sold.”

A reply was made by Mr Mulholland to a statement by Mr E. W.' Gough, a former New Zealand farmer, who is now a member of the English National Farmers’ Union, that he anticipated the application of quotas against each of the dominions and colonies on lines suggested at the Empire Producers’ Conference at Sydney, the leader of which, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith. was the new British Minister of Agriculture. A Misconception.

“Nothing was suggested by the conference in Sydney of any quota against the dominions,” Mr Mulholland said.

“Either Mr Gough’s remark \vas misunderstood, or his reference is to what the British delegation suggested, but which was not agreed to by the conference.

“The British delegation agreed to the finding of the conference, which deliberately omitted all reference to restriction, quota, or any form of import duty, and so on.”

The accelerated and expanded defence programme of the Australian Federal Government, which it was estimated originally would cost £63,000,000 over a period of three years, will probably cost not less than £IOO,000,000. Additional expenditure results from recommendation of the InspectorGeneral of Military Forces, Lieut-Gen-eral Squires.