NEW ZEALAND DAIRY PRODUCE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 177, 22 February 1933, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND DAIRY PRODUCE

- —0 Imports to Britain

RESTRICTION INADVISABLE

Daily Mail's Tribute to

Dominion

Press Association. —Copyright. London, Feb. 21.—" New Zealand lias faced the slump with magnificent courage," says the .Daily Mail. "It the importation of food products has to be limited, our proper course is surely to act in the Ottawa spirit and restrict the imports from foreign countries, not those from the Dominions." >■.-. ' ' "The / "restriction of New Zealand dairy imports is highly says the city editor of the Daily Mail. •'Holderli of loans are watching the negotiations with some concern. Despite recent movements the Australians and'New Zealanders still need all possible assistance to enable maximum exports. The Daily Mail praises the magnificent courage with which New Zealand has faced the slump and is now pulling through, "but if access to Britain is limited New Zealand may be driven to default in loans amounting to £100,000,000. If limitation is necessary Britain must act in the Ottawa spirit and restrict foreigners, not the Dominions. For instance, Argentina sold Britain goods worth £160,000,000 in three years and took only £ 50,000,000" of British goods. There also should be no hesitation in imposing higher duties* on Irish Free State goods competing with New Zealand, giving the loyal Dominion fair play."

MR. COATES REPLIES TO CRITICS

Press. Association —Copyright

Wellington, Feb. 21. —Mr. A. D. McLeod (Co., Wairarapa) asked the Minister of Finance in the House oi Representatives to-day whether he had noticed a published statement by the Wellington business men's committee that th e British suggestion to reduce imports of dairy produce from New Zealand was the outcome of the, increase in the New Zealand exchange rate, and whether any reply had been issued to- such "obvious propaganda."

The ■ Minister (the Rt. Hon. J. G.! Goates) quoted his reply to the com- j mittee> in which he had said; "It was\ reasonable to surmise that the exchange rise should be blamed for every untoward event that happened to come after it in point of time, and indeed, when I saw the bitterness of] the opposition to the increase and; the strained arguments to which our] Q'ritics resorted. I was among those f who prophesied that such an argument, illogical as it.is, would be used. I hardly thought, however, that a re-- ! sponsible body professing to voice' the J Opinions of the business men of Wei- I lington would be the first to commit ! the blunder.'* j