LIVE STOCK EMBARGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23006, 8 October 1936, Page 10

LIVE STOCK EMBARGO

VIEW OF FEDERATED CHAMBERS LIFTING OF RESTRICTION FAVOURED MINISTER PROMISES CONSIDERATION (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. At the final session of the conference of the Federated Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire today a resolution was adopted asking for the removal of the embargo on the importation of live stock. The viewpoint of the New Zealand farmer was expressed by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin), who went on to say that if removal could be effected without danger the Government would raise the existing restrictions. Sir Albert Atkey (Nottingham) moved —"That, in the interests of progressive trade with New Zealand, Congress L of the unanimous opinion that the Government of New Zealand be asked to reconsider and, if thought fit, remove the embargo on live stock forthwith." Sir Albert said he understood that this restriction upon trade between the Mother Country and New Zealand was established in the first instance because of a fear that foot-and-mouth disease might be imported into New Zealand. It never had been, and agricultural authorities in ' Britain thought it was a " false alarm." He stressed the quarantine and inspection system at Home, and said that as a matter of fact animals could always come into New Zealand by a detour, as. for instance, by Australia if the importer was prepared to pay the extra cost. There was always a way of getting behind an Act of Parliament. They were looking to the Government of New Zealand to take a very catholic.view of the situation which this irritating embargo created. Lord Bledisloe, when he was here, had done his best to persuade the Government of New Zealand to relax the restriction, and was still advocating it. Sir Albert Atkey concluded by saying that he could find no strong feeling existent, except one for the raising of the embargo. The seconder was Mr C. A. L. Treadwell. acting as delegate for Hongkong.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin) addressed the congress on the subject. He said he was a working farmer, and saw things largely from the point of view of the working farmer. The farmers had felt that many times they had been sacrificed on the altar of commerce. Rightly or wrongly, that was their point of view. He proceeded to put the economic situation from the New Zealand farmer's point of view in regard to the embargo itself and the resolution before congress. No doubt, the Minister said, the Government would take the necessary steps to have an investigation made, and if the situation warranted it he thought he could say definitely on behalf of the Government that the embargo would be removed. They had, however, to be satisfied that in removing it they were doinp the right thing. He reminded congress that the oresent Government had been in office for onlv a short time, and had been dealing with important legislation, and had not had an opportunity of dealing with this particular auestion which, he had no doubt from what he had read and the letters he had received, was in some parts of Britain a burning question. After tracing the political history of the embargo. Mr Lee Martin said that New Zealand was a dairying country, and there was a strong feeling that the embargo should not be removed. In view of his visit to the Old Country, the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) had been supplied with all the information available, and would investigate the whole nosition while in the Homeland. The Minister made no secret of the fact that exnert officers of the Department of Agriculture were strongly in favour of the removal of the embargo, but he warned his hearers that experts often made mistakes. The fullest investigation would be made, and if the removal could be effected without danger the Government would do what was best in the interests of all concerned. The resolution was strongly opposed by Mr Ross (Auckland), who said the farmers of New Zealand, bv a large majority, were in favour of maintaining the restrictions.

The resolution was put to the vote and passed unanimously.