QUOTA SYSTEM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 1 September 1932, Page 8

QUOTA SYSTEM

FOR AND AGAINST VIEWS OF MEAT PRODUCERS “I would much prefer to have seen tariffs imposed against foreigners than the quota system,” said Mr James Begg (Dunedin), a member of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, when speaking at the annual meeting yester, day. ‘‘The quota system might pan out all right, but there is an element of danger about it. The grower at Home is just like us: he grows lambs and wants to market them at the best price he can get. New Zealand lamb goes info competition with his lamb, just as much as the Argentine product does.” Mr Begg said the 'grower in Britain might press for a quota against New Zealand in the future, if he saw the advantage that was to be gained from it. The British grower of lamb loved New Zealand lamb just as much as the Canterbury wheat farmer loved Australian wheat. (Laughter.) He felt that there was a risk attached to the quota system, but he was pleased to know that the Ottawa Conference had approved of the principle of trade within the Empire. Remarking that New Zealand was practically pledged to lower its duties against British manufacturers, Mr Begg said that that was all to tire good, as it would lower costs to the farmers.

Speaking later, the acting-chairman of the board (Mr A. A. Duncan) said he was very much in favour of the quota. Mr A. V. S. .Reed (ITawkes Bay) said the sheep farmers in his district were opposed to a quota, as they believed it would be dangerous and might be used against them. Mr Duncan said that in bis view the quota system was no more dangerous than the tariff. “They can use the tariff against us just as much as they can use the quota,” declared Mr Duncan.