N.Z. EXPORTS

Southland Times, Issue 22075, 24 July 1933, Page 7

N.Z. EXPORTS

PRIMARY PRODUCE TREATY WITH BELGIUM INVESTIGATION BY MR MASTERS (Special to United Press Association New Zealand.) London, July 21. The Hon. R. Masters to-day had a long discussion with M. Suetens (Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs) in connection with a trade agreement between New Zealand and Belgium so far as the Dominion’s meat, butter, cheese and apples are concerned. There is grave difficulty in the way of obtaining favourable terms for New Zealand butter, but there are possibilities in connection with cheese and apples. It has been arranged that Mr Masters shall go to Brussels at the conclusion of the World Conference to meet the Belgian Prime Minister and Minister of Customs to see if any reciprocal arrangements are possible. The difficulty with regard to butter is that Belgium has a most-favoured-nation treaty with Denmark and Holland. Still, the situation is not without possibilities, and these will be fully explored by Mr Masters.

EMPIRE DUMPING

DOMINIONS TAKEN TO TASK.

(Special to United Press Association, Mew Zealand.)

(Rec. 6.3 p.m ) London, July 22. The Evening Star, London, has bitter things to say of what it terms Empire dumping. It refers editorially to a recent debate in the House of Lords and Lord Delawar’s statement in reply, and says the latter’s feeble answer to cynical mockery of Empire trade is to issue threats and warnings of what may happen when the Ottawa agreements expire, though by that time this evil system of colonial dumping may have done its fell work and put British producers beyond their capacity to come back.

The paper also published a cartoon showing a Knight of Empire Free Trade crushed to the ground by an Empire dumping sack. This attitude of the Star to dominion trade is typical of a good deal of other prevalent comment. Particularly strong attacks were made on the British Government at a meeting of the Yorkshire executive of the National Farmers’ Union where a resolution was carried unanimously that Major Elliot be urged to obtain immediately further substantial restrictions on the importation of live and dead meats in order to avert the present ruinous prices of Home produced meat. New Zealand can gather from this the difficult task confronting the Hons. G. W. Forbes and R. Masters.

The Birmingham Gazette says the peculiarity of the World Conference is that most of its important work is being done outside the framework of the conference itself. The paper states that the serious disagreement which arose between the British delegation and representatives of the Dominions' delegations on the question of quotas and other restrictions at meetings of Cabinet at Whitehall continues. It is understood the British Government is pressing very strongly for the maintenance of the new policy of quotas on all forms of dairy produce, which policy is being as strongly opposed bv New Zealand and Australia. It is urged on behalf of th? British Government that preference in the case of butter has had the effect of permitting prices to go down. Therefore, states the paper, it is understood the British Government intends to proceed with use of the quota restrictions as a means of securing a general increase in price levels. The New Zealand representative urged the Government to present definite proposals dealing with the various commodities to which they desire to apply the quotas. It is understood the British delegation has not so far agreed to do this.