IMPORTED MILK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21493, 17 May 1933, Page 11

IMPORTED MILK

SURPLUS IN BRITAIN RESTRICTIONS WANTED LONDON, May 15 111 the House of Commons to-dav, the Minister of Agriculture, Major W. E. Elliot, said that in view of the increased supply of home-produced milk now being diverted to manufacture, to the accumulation of stocks in manufacturers' hands and to the urgent need for providing markets for a larger homo-produced output, he felt bound to ask for an emergency measure for a substantial reduction of imports of condensed whole and condensed -skim milk, skimmed creagi and milk powder, in order to establish more stable market in the interests of all concerned.

The Minister said ho had met representatives of foreign exporters, and had every hope of an adequate measure of voluntary co-operation. Early conversations on tho same subject with representatives of the Dominions were being arranged. According to the Daily Herald, Major Elliot is trying to force the price of surplus milk for manufacturing to Gd a gallon. The price now is 3Jd. Major Elliot to-day consulted the Australian Minister in London, Mr. S. M. Bruce, in reference to tho limitation of Australian supplies of tinned cream, and condensed and powdered milk in the interests of British industry. The quantities of Australian exports of these commodities to Britain are very small. The question of butter and cheese has not been raised. Britain so far has not submitted to the Dominion representatives definite proposals about restrictions.

An explanation of the position referred to in the cablegram, so far as it is likely to ; affect New Zealand, was made by Mr. W. Goodfellow, managingdirector of ■ Amalgamated Dairies, Limited, yesterday. The effects, he said, were not likely to bo serious for the Dominion, as the chief exporter of condensed milk and powder to Britain was Holland, which sent over tremendous quantities, particularly of condensed skim milk. The position quite justified the British Government in seeking to put a stop to excessive dumping by foreign countries of skimmed milk products. His own firm was the leading supplier in the Empire of milk powder, but the total quantities of New Zealand's exports of condensed milk and milk powder wrt-e relatively small as against the foreign contribution. There was no reason why New Zealand's output should be curtailed. Not only was its contribution relatively small, but the supply was regular. Further, during the past season the company had voluntarily reduced its export of "powder, because of the unsatisfactory position at the consuming end, by closing tho big Waharoa factory, which was changed over to cheese.

BUTTER LIMITATION

DISCUSSIONS PROCEEDING British Wireless RUGBY, Mny 15 Mr. J. H. Thomas, Dominions Secretary, stated to-day that, arising out of representations by the. High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir Thomas Wilford, as to the general fall in the wholesale price levels in the case of butter, discussions were proceeding with the New Zealand and Australian Governments as to the possibility of regulating imports in a manner that would be satisfactory to all parties. The Minister pointed out that in view of the Ottawa agreements the regulation of imports into Britain of butter, cheese and other milk products from the Dominions before August, 19.%, could only be brought about by voluntary arrangement. - DANISH BACON PRICES DANGEROUSLY HIGH • LONDON". May 15 The Daily Herald states that, owing to the quota restrictions imposed in November, the* wholesale price of standard grade Danish bacon has risen from 52s a cwt to B.'3s. The Minister of Agriculture, Major W. E. Elliot, the paper reports, is to approach the exporting countries and suggest that supplies be temporarily increased in order to keep the price about /Os to 755. The Minister fears that the higher price will make the housewives buy cheaper breakfast meats and thus defeat his scheme to establish a largescale bacon industry in Britain. Wholesale dealers state that bacon prices arc now dangerously high.