BUTTER QUOTA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 10

BUTTER QUOTA

PROPOSALS CONDEMNED " BLOW TO DOMINION " DAIRY BOARD'S ATTITUDE OPPOSITION MAINTAINED [my telegraph—own correspondent] WELLINGTON. Friday The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board at its meeting yesterday discussed fully the proposals for the adoption by Britain of quota restrictions upon imports of butter. Tho unanimous opinion of members was that acceptance of tho principle of any restrictions upon the importation of New Zealand butter into Britain would be a severe and drastic blow not only to the dairy industry but to the whole Dominion, both for tho present and future. No fresh evidence was submitted to convince the board of the need of any revision of its former decision disagreeing absolutely with the proposals for retriction. The point was emphasised that New Zealand had borrowed money extensively from tho British moneylender in older to develop her resources and expand tho Dominion. Tho country's capacity to repay those obligations depended absolutely upon rotaining full and free access of New Zealand produce to the British market. Both political and commercial leaders for years past had urged the industry to increase production and the whole economic drive in the industry had been in that direction. Those interests now urging restrictions to meet a temporary need could not, it was felt, appreciate the real impact of thoir proposal upon the Dominion's economic life and for that reason the board decided to maintain its previous decision. With this viewpoint the board's delegates to tho conference in Australia, Mr. Dynes Fulton, Mr. W. Grounds and Mr. T. C. Brash, left for Sydney by the Wanganclla to-day. The prime purpose of their visit, it may be said, is not to discuss restrictions, but to attempt to co-ordinate regular shipping arrangements to ensure tho more even arrival of quantities of produce going iorward.