BOTH QUOTA AND LEVY

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1934, Page 4

BOTH QUOTA AND LEVY

POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE FACTS FARMERS MUST CONSIDER. i OPPOSITION TO BOTH EXPRESSED. THE DISADVANTAGES SUMMARISED The likelihood that either quotas Or levies, or perhaps both, would be imposed on New Zealand produce entering Bfi- - tain after the expiry of the Ottawa, agreement next dune was Stressed by Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, when he spoke to a meeting of the Huiroa branch of the uniOil oh Monday night. Mh Polsdn gave his opinions bn the matter ift reply to a question. He said there might be no choice between quotas and levies, as both might be imposed when the Ottawa agreement terminated. He objected to either, but if it was necessary to decide in favour Of one they would have tb think Carefully which they would select. He Summarised his Objections to qubtas under the following four headings:— (1) They would result in stagnation of the primary industry in the Dominion and the hamstringing of the farming Community. (2) They would by creating a surplus internally enable buyers of stock and produce io break dbWn Valufes. (3) They Would by reducing supplies at the other end encourage substitutes. (4) They might easily end in the elimination of the market in Great Britain altogether. The objections to levies were:— Q) Levies would fall very heavily on the lower valued products. <2) Levies Would take a proportion Of New Zealand’s labour and productions to subsidise the British farmer. (3) Because NOW Zealand would pay the levies and not the British people levies Would be a popular tax And Would . possibly continue hhd grow heavier. (4) Levies would encourage British primary production at NOW Zealand 6 expense. The responsibility of making a decision was one for members Of the. farming community after the facts were placed before them. Naturairy they Would continue to fight both, but if they were forced to decide between one_ or the. other they Would have to consider the points raised.