EMPIRE PRODUCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21555, 28 July 1933, Page 9

EMPIRE PRODUCE

FURTHER DEMAND EXTENDED RESTRICTION MEAT AND APPLES NOW By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 27. 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 2f. It is understood that tho British Empire conversations will be continued for a few days after tho conclusion of tho Economic Conference. Besides dairy products New Zealand and Australia have been asked to consider a reduction of shipments of meat and apples. Mr. Neville Chamberlain's declaration regarding an Empiro monetary policy in the House of Commons probably will result in conversations with Mr. R. B. Bennett (Canada), Mr. S. M. Bruce (Australia), General Smuts (South Africa) and Mr. G. W. Forbes (New Zealand). It is learned that the conversations have boon marked by outspoken exchanges of opinion about implementing the Ottawa agreements* Criticisms of the Dominions aro revealed in questions in tho llouso of Commons. Tho Minister of Agriculture, Major Elliot, has brought strong pressure to bear on tho New Zealand and Australian Ministers in favour of a further limitation of thoir exports of dairy products. It is understood that tho New Zealand and Australian Ministers aro strongly resisting tho restriction proposals. They aro insisting that the Empire's trade figures justify their demand that reduction should bo first more drastically applied to foreign supplies. The Daily Herald is treating the Empire conversations in a sensational manner. It alleges that " something very liko a serious Empiro crisis is developing." The paper says British Ministers are accusing tho Dominions of acting in a disloyal spirit and the Dominion Ministers are hotly resenting the suggestion that they should subordinate their own economic interests to those of Britain. "Bickerings over tariff policy and the divergence of opinion over monetary policy have produced the most dangerous strain on relations within the Empire since tho American declaration of independence," declares the paper. " Tho Dominions Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, to-day will try to gloss this over, but the crisis will remain." NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

DAIRY BOARD'S STAND v. RESTRICTIONS OPPOSED [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Thursday "I am sorry wo have not someone in Parliament strong enough to abolish tariffs on all British goods," said Mr. Dynes Fulton, at a meeting of conveners of the New Zealand Co-operative Herd-Testing Association in Hamilton to-day. Such an action, he said, would bo very acceptable to Britain and there would then be no further attempt to restrict tho importation ' of Dominion products. The members of the Dairy Produce Board were not anticipating any restrictions being imposed at present on exports of dairy produce to Britain. From the knowledge he had of the authorities in Britain he was confident they would stand by the Ottawa agreement. At present the British Government was asking New Zealand producers to consider restriction of exports purely on a voluntary basis. The board had maintained its original attitude and would not agree to restrictions. Mr. Fulton said he believed nothing would bo done by tho representatives of the New Zealand Government at present in London to pledge this country to a policy of restriction. As far as the butter market was concerned British producers played a very small part. They manufactured only about 40,000 tons a year, which was a very small proportion of the total quantity sold. New Zealand had great possibilities of increasing her production to five or six times tho present total. She was able to put butter on tho market more cheaply than any other country in tho world.

FREE TRADE POLICY NEED FOR RECIPROCITY The policy of reciprocal free traclo between Great Britain and New Zealand lias been expounded at various meetings in the Waikato and Thames Valley this week. Meetings have been held at Cambridge, Morrinsville, To Aroha, Paeroa and Te Awnmutu of business men and farmers, and the speakers have beon Messrs. W. Goodfellow, G. Jackson and J. Hislop, of Auckland. In each case, a branch of the re-cently-formed New Zealand Producers' and United Kingdom Manufacturers' [Reciprocal Trade federation was formed. Mr. Goodfellow said it would seem that the quota at this stage was little more than a suggestion. Britain was clearly shown to have been trading at a loss, and was forced to open aveuuea for trade in the commodities she olfered for sale. If New Zealand opened the doors now closed by tariffs and enabled trade between this country and Britain to revive on the basis of goqds, there would, in his opinion, be no more talk of quotas. But if New Zealand persisted in her present policy, Britain would have no possible alternative to imposing tariffs on our butter and other food products, as well as a quota limiting the volume of our exports.