EMPIRE FAIR TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1930, Page 9

EMPIRE FAIR TRADE.

(To the Editor.) • i fiir,—•From a letter written to a dairy compapy by Mr. F.. J. Nathan, a copy of which appeared in- the Daily News on December 4, the following As • an extract:; “We are: all a' little diflturbed at the huge difference between the-yalucs of New Zealand and Danish butters. ’ This, of course, is accounted for, I think, ’by the Dance / retaining the goodwill of .the people who are marketipg their butter by .not interfering ■’•with the agents in the marketing. If you dook' at , our position on the London markpt as it was a few years ago, when we had the .goodwill of the London mer- ' shaiite, you will see that' these differerices did .not exist.” Regarding the extraordinary difference between New Z?»land . and Danish prices,- which ampunte to Danish' preference, thera, must be a- reason, because New Zealand is the-most.-, reliable source from which Britain .draws'her supply on account of thei'even .climatic conditions,.yet we find not; only' Denmark, which always had a , slight advantage, but this year for the first'time, they Balkan States have obtairied' a 'higher price for their butter. Therefore the. writer’s answer seems convincing when he says we have loet the goodwill of the people who buy our. prpdu<?e» / You will, agree that a stateinent of such; a serious nature is not published without careful consideration, and such' being: the case it calle for im-. mediate investigation. The. dairy farmer? should hot be victimised for something over which fie has pb control; he is; entitled, at . Any-rate to equal treatment' under 'Empire rule with competitors of -foreign countries.- - a ■ _ ■ Assuming, that the; writer is correct, what a miserable fiasco we have just witnessed at’ the Imperial Conference and the. hypocrisy of our Prime Minister when he said he was disappointed with'. Britain; for. not agreeing to Empire preference by placing a tax bn toreign dairy produce. 'He should know as much and more about the relations or the buyers than Mr. Nathan, so it will be for him to epeak. It is apparent that the British buyer looks on us with suspicion, and is’determined not to give, us anything that would create a monopoly. 1 If th'e fault is with our marketing methods or if the British public are under the impression that a butter • combine is only awaiting a chance to squeeze the last' farthing, then we shall be a. long -time before we restore confidence, and it is for the Government '.to face the.facts and get to the root of the’trouble. A resolution was passed at the New Zealand Dairy Council urging the British Government to place a tax bn foreign food imported into Great Britain- and in return New Zealand agree to : a reduction of duty on British goods. This also has the taint of “force,” and consequently fails to impress, because we must send our produce to Britain irrespective of whether a-. foreinm tax is imposed or not. and in . return if we do not buy the goods from Britain she will produce that much l cas . Far better hold-out the hand of friendship and if it is possible give her that preference without quid pro quo and trust . mutual and voluntary reciprocation. —I .am, etc., . . • M. DAVIS. Midhirst, December 17. 1930.