LEVY AND NOT QUOTA

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1935, Page 9

LEVY AND NOT QUOTA

NEW ZEALAND’S PRODUCE BRITAIN’S DAIRY PROPOSALS. DELAY ENFORCED BY PACTS. MR. J. G. COATES’ INFORMATION. By Telegraph-Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. “In November, 1935, the United Kingdom Government is free in terms of the Ottawa agreements either to impose, a duty on Empire dairy produce or to introduce quantitative regulation. For three years since 1932 neither of these could be done without our agreeing to waive our Ottawa rights,” said the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates on his return from London tonight. “In the first case a margin of 15s per cwt, 15 per cent, on cheese, must be maintained during the period of Ottawa agreements in our favour. “It happens that agreements with Denmark and other European countries, the ‘black pacts’ which are current until the end of 1936, prevent the United Kingdom from increasing the duty on their butter above 15s per cwt. Hence ours must remain free till then in the absence of an agreement by foreign countries to waive the 15s maximum.

“The intentions of the .United Kingdom Government, which on the present showing will involve a levy on all produce, Empire included, rather than a supply regulation, have been indicated to. us generally and a letter from the Dominions Secretary makes formal record of the matter. . ■ “Our request has been that before so important a matter is decided it should be the subject of consultation to which we are a party. United Kingdom Ministers. the Prime Minister and the Dominions Secretary on July 17 and. the Minister of Agriculture on July 18, agreed to this.