DOMINIONS' BUTTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21450, 25 March 1933, Page 11

DOMINIONS' BUTTER

EXPOET BESTEICTION WARM DEBATE IN CANBERRA ORIGIN OF THE SCHEME NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ' CANBERRA, March 24 Another heated discussion in the House of Representatives on the proposed restriction of butter exports ended only when tho closure was applied amid uproar. Both Mr. J. H. Scullin (Federal Labour) and Mr. J. A. Beasley (Lang Labour) accused tho Government of attempting to mislead the House. Mr. B. 11. Corser (Country Party) said the House had not been informed by the Attorney-General, Mr. J. G. Latham, of the real position in regard to butter. The original proposal for a restriction of exports of Dominion butter originated in Britain, he said. Ho quoted New Zealand

press reports of strong opposition by the Dominion Government and the New Zealand Dairy Board to any restriction. Mr. Latham replied that this did not alter the fact that tho statement he made on Tuesday, that tho British Government had exerted no pressure upon the Commonwealth Government, and actually that negotiations had been opened by the New Zealand Government, was correct. He was at a loss to understand why Mr. Corser should go out of his way to make charges of deceit. How New Zealand Raised the Issue The Minister added that he had given the House the facts as stated by Mr. S. M. Bruce, Australian Minister in London. On January 26 Mr. Bruce sent a message to the Government to the effect that the Dominions' Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir Thomas Wilford, and himself had discussed the proposal made by New Zealand for a 25 per cent restriction on imports of foreign butter into Britain. Mr. Beasley: Yes, that is on foreign butter. Mr. Latham: That is how the discussion began. The question then was: How could the restrictions be imposed on foreign butter without some restriction on Dominion butter ? There had been amazing press propaganda about Britain attempting to dictate to the Dominions, but 110 such attempt had been made. Mr. Scullin said that Mr. Latham had stated quite definitely that the question of restricting exports to Britain had been raised by the New Zealand Government. His own impression now was that New Zealand raised the question of restricting foreign imports, and in response to that request Britain suggested that the Dominions should share in the restriction. Adjournment Amid Uproar Mr. Scullin asked Mr. Latham whether his statement was not intended to give the impression only that the suggestion for a restriction of the Dominions' produce came from New Zealand. Mr. Latham: It meant what it said. Mr. Beasley said that Mr. Scullin had exposed what had actually happened. If no pressure had been applied to the Dairy Control Board in Australia, why had the board carried a resolution asking the Government to stay its hand while it consulted with the New Zealand producers ? Mr. Latham said information had been supplied to the board on butter production in Briiain, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

There was uproar when the Minister of Health, Mr. C. W. Marr, moved that the debate be adjourned. The motion was agreed to by 29 to 22 votes. Six members of the Country Party and two Independents voted with the Federal and Lang Labour members against the motion.