FARM PRODUCE

Southland Times, Issue 23199, 14 May 1937, Page 11

FARM PRODUCE

EMPIRE MARKETING FORMATION OF COUNCIL A special report from the Canadian Chamber of Agriculture dealing with Empire marketing policies and the suggested formation of an Empire council and an Empire producers’ organization has been received by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The report states that at the Imperial Conference to be held in London at the time of the Coronation the Australian Government proposes to suggest the appointment of an Empire Agriculture Council for the purpose of co-ordinating Empire marketing policies for farm produce. It will be suggested, states the report, that this council shall consist of those Ministers of different parts of the Empire who deal with agricultural problems, and that the council, when organized, shall collaborate with producers’ bodies organized on an Empire scale. The developments that have led up to the suggestion that such a council should be formed are in part the increasing surpluses of farm produce produced by Empire countries, the greater part of which for years has been unloaded on the United Kingdom markets and has been the cause of gluts and depressed prices which have caused heavy losses to producers throughout the Empire. For some years there has been a growing conviction that in the interests of producers both in the United Kingdom and in the Dominions some system should be devised which would make it possible to secure a better regulation of shipments of farm produce to the United Kingdom markets. Fruit Conferences The fruit interests of the Empire were the first to recognize the need of a co-ordination of marketing policies. A voluntary agreement was reached at a conference held in London in 1934, and this has done much to improve the situation by preventing the over-lap-ping of seasons and the export of fruit which did not possess the slightest prospect of selling. Last summer a second Empire fruit conference was held and this, like the first conference, proved helpful regarding the decisions reached about Empire marketing policies. Last summer steps were taken with a view to forming both an Empire meat council and an international meat council to regulate the supply of meat on the United Kingdom market These councils are in process of formation, and it is proposed that the distributors shall be strongly represented on them. During the last three years, continues the report, national dairy organizations throughout the Empire have had under consideration the holding of an Empire dairy producers’ conference, mainly to consider matters arising out of the renewal of Empire agreements. The possibility of forming an Empire dairy producers’ council has been suggested. British Farmers’ View The National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales strongly favours Empire collaboration in the marketing policies. Sir Percy Hurd, speaking in the House of Commons stated recently that while the United Kingdom Government had to be consulted by the Dominions in regard to the setting up of a consultative committee of Empire producers, if representations were made to him concerning the matter he would be prepared to consider them.

The secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr A. P. O’Shea, stated, that the question of holding a conference about the matter had been discussed, and probably a meeting would be held in Australia next year during the centenary celebrations. The New Zealand Farmers’ Union had not yet discussed the matter at any great length because of lack of information. Now, however, it would probably receive the serious consideration of the executive. Canada had been pressing for such a conference and desired it to be held in London, but the Australian organizations and the Federal Government favoured the idea of an Empire producers’ conference in connection with the centenary celebrations, and to a certain extent they were prepared to treat delegates as guests of the Government.

The New Zealand Farmers’ Union was expecting further information about the matter, Mr O’Shea added.