DAIRY PRODUCTS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12437, 1 September 1933, Page 2

DAIRY PRODUCTS.

QETQTAS AND RESTRICTIONS. The markets are dealt with as under in the Dairy Control Board’s annual report: In our 1931-32 annual report we gave a comprehensive review of the quotas and restrictions which have been imposed upon dairy products by the various countries of the world. There has been no easement in that position, hut rather the reverse. For instance, the New Zea-land-Canadian Treaty, which it was hoped would encourage shipments of butter to that Dominion, has proved to be of but little value, as it contained a provision permitting the Canadian Government to practically prohibit export when it considered that there was sufficient Canadian butter to supply the local requirements. This condition became operative during the season which has just closed. Reference was made in last year’s report to the Board’s efforts for an adequate representation for New Zealand at the Ottawa Economic Conference and to the fact that Mr William Goodfellow had agreed to accept the position of official advisor on dairy matters attached to the Zealand delegation, which was confirmed by the New Zealand delegation. The Board put forward a request and this was supported by the political delegation that Great Britain should impose a quota restriction against the foreign butter she imported, together with a duty of tw'opence per pound, and further, that whilst no quota restriction should be applied to_ imports of foreign cheese, it should be subject to a duty of twopence per pound. The Conference at Ottawa was opened by His Excellency the GovernorGeneral of Canada, on 21st July, 1932. Delegations were present at this Conference from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Irish Free State, Newfoundland, India and Southern Rhodesia. The Hon. J. G. Coates, the leader of the New Zealand Government delegation, in stating to the Conference the position of this Dominion, and at the same time expressing appreciation of the 10 per cent, preference granted by the British Government in February, 1932, in favour of Empire dairy products, went on to say: “Experience has proved beyond question that tariff preferences are a valuable instrument in stimulating Empire trade. Their influence is, however, expressed in long term trends : and it is, we think, necessary Hint in the present emergency they should be aided by some more direct means. For this reason we support the proposals that have been made for the judicious application with respect to selected commodities of the principle of the quota, to govern the importation of 11011-Empire products into Empire markets. In no case do we think the quota or qualitative restrictions should apply to products of the Empire ; but the end can be best achieved by taking power to restrict the volume of foreign imports.” It will thus be seen that the request for a duty against the importation of dairy produce from foreign countries, together with a. quota restriction, was definitely put forward. The New Zealand delegation worked strenuously towards this objective. The United Kingdom delegation opposed the idea of quantitative, restrictions against foreign dairy produce, one of the principal objections being that in their opinion such restriction would tend to raise prices against the consumers. This should he noted in view of later developments. The final result of the Ottawa Conference as far as the dairy industry in New Zealand is concerned was the institution by the United Kingdom of the following duties against foreign dairy produce: Butter; Duty of 15s per cwt. Cheese: Duty of 15 per cent, ad valorem. Condensed milk: Whole sweetened, 5s per cwt in addition to the duty in respect of sugar content ; whole not sweetened, 6s per cwt. Milk powder and other preserved milk: Not sweetened, 6s per cwt.