PRODUCE FOR BRITAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21729, 19 February 1934, Page 11

PRODUCE FOR BRITAIN

QUOTA DISCUSSIONS GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S VIEWS [from our own correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Saturday " I am going to ask a question—but 1 will not answer it," said the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Bledisloe, in his address at the Franklin Show to-day. " What about the quota?" Turning to Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P. for the district, His Excellency continued. " It is a matter for the members of the legislatures and those who have to do with the commercial side, but I do hope they will try to reach some agreement." Lord Bledisloe said that since the signing of the Ottawa agreement the interests of the British farmer and the New Zealand farmer were identical. He hoped the quota discussions would end in some arrangement that would obviate fiscal warfare. New Zealand should not lump her produce with other countries' produce, but should take into account quality as well as quantity, and the New Zealand 'dairyfarmers, especially those whose keynote was quality, would have nothing to fear from any mutual arrangement that might eventuate.

New Zealand butter was made under more natural conditions than Danish, and refrigeration had overcome the handicap of distance. Yet the question was asked: " Why does Danish command so much higher price?" The answer to that was in one word: "Uniformity." Lord Bledisloe said he knew Denmark almost as well as he knew Now Zealand, and he could say thai: New Zealand butter had nothing like the uniformity that the Danish people boasted for theirs. The position in regard to cheese was similar. DAIRY FARMERS' CONCERN r REQUEST FOR INFORMATION r [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Saturday A desire for definite information regarding the Government's quota proposals was expressed at conferences of committeemen of the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, Limited, held during the past three days at Pukekohe, Papakura and Kumeu. At each centre the general manager, Mr. C. J. Parlane and members of the directorate wore present, and many matters concerning the welfare of the company and the suppliers were discussed. Concern was generally expressed at the delay on the part of the Government in giving effect to the spirit of the agreement reached at the Ottawa Conference and at recent statements made by Ministers of the Crown in connection with quota proposals. At Ptikekohe the following resolutions were carried:—"That in view of recent public statements made by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance in reference to the imposition of a quota by Great Britain, this meeting of dairy farmers from Pukekohe and surrounding districts requests the directors to get a definite statement from the Government setting out precisely their attitude regarding the quota proposals." " That this meeting demands of the Government the honouring of the Ottawa Agreement as affecting tariffs, the honouring of this being a complete and definite answer to quota proposals." Resolutions expressing similar opinions were also passed at Papakuta and Kumeu.