QUOTA PROBLEMS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1934, Page 2

QUOTA PROBLEMS

PORK EXPORT TRADE NO RESTRICTION HINTED. MR. J. N. MASSEY’S STATEMENT. A lively discussion on export quotas took place at a public meeting at Patumahoe last week, at which addresses were given by Mr. Dynes Fulton, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, and Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P. for Franklin. About 160 farmers and other residents from a wide area were present. Mr. Massey stated that from a review of the facts as they were now he felt justified in saying that New Zealand would be allowed to ship to Great Britain all the porker and baconer pigs she could produce in the season now opening. The chairman, Mr. A. Woolsey, after referring to the embargo on the export of bobby calf and boner cow meat, said farmers did not know what was in store for them. It was the general feeling of the farmers that all these restrictions were unnecessary—that their interests were being sacrificed for the secondary industries. GOODS IROM BRITAIN. Later, a contention by Mr. Fulton that if the New Zealand Government would give free entry to all British goods, except those competing with New Zealand goods manufactured from New Zealand’s own raw materials, the question of quotas by Britain would disappear, was greeted with cheers. “I was astounded to learn that while f was on my way to Great Britain on my recent visit a turmoil had developed in the dairying industry,” said Mr. Fulton. “When I left New Zealand on February 6 there was no talk of a quota being accepted, but before I reached Home I received a radiogram from the dairy company’s London manager acquainting me with the fact that a crisis had developed in the dairying industry and after several days’ sittings, and conferences with the Farmers’ Union and the Government, the Dairy Boaio had decided that it had no option but to acquiesce in a quota.” In England, continued Mr. Fulton, he met the British Minister of Agriculture, Major Elliot, who confirmed what he had said only the day before in the House of Commons. This was that the British Government’s policy was to carry out the Ottawa agreement to the full. Arrangements had been made for the next two years that would leave the question of an increase of the exports of milk products to Great Britain entirely in the hands of the Dominions themselves. MR. MASSEY'S VIEWS “I say that on June 30 last, Major Elliot announced that the Imperial Government was faced with imposing restrictions,” stated Mr. Masey. Suggestions had been made about restricting putter exports. Asked if he was in favour of quotas, Mr. Massey replied that if the British Govei'nment, after reviewing all the facts, decided that to raise the level of prices to benefit Empire fanners quotas should be imposed, he would be prepared to acquiesce. He agreed with a suggestion by Mt. Fulton that there should be a conference of representatives of the Dominions and the Imperial Government in London to deal with the question of quotas before any restrictions were imposed.

The meeting carried a resolution expressing strong opposition to any attempt to impose quotas or restrictions upon' toe dairying industry and demanding that the Government meet the position by immediately reducing the protective tariffs on’ all United Kingdom goods, thereby proving New Zealand’s determination to foster Empire trade.