DOMINIONS’ ONLY MARKET

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19758, 27 March 1934, Page 7

DOMINIONS’ ONLY MARKET

MR BRUCE’S REVIEW OF SITUATION “EMPIRE MUST ACT TOGETHER’’ United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, March 26. The Australian High Commissioner, Mr Stanley Bruce, who has arrived from England, says that the only market that can meet our needs is the British market. It is imperative that Empire countries should act together. The main object of his visit is to discuss how this co-operation can be secured. RESTRICTION OF IMPORTS. ENGLISH NEWSPAPER COMMENTS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 26, 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, March 25. The political correspondent of “The News Chronicle” says: “The British Government message to New Zealand foreshadows the doom of the Ottawa agreements. Mr Thomas, replying to Mr Forbes’s recent inquiries regarding reciprocity, hinted that the advantages proffered would not outweigh the severity of the Dominion competition with the British farm products. Cabinet believes that the imports of Dominion agricultural products must forcefully be restricted immediately Ottawa’s expiry frees the Government’s hands. “The Daily Telegraph,” announcing the Government’s rejection of New Zealand’s offer of lower tariffs in return for a free market in dairy produce attributes it to the influence of Mr Walter Elliot (Minister of Agriculture) who has been insistent in the interests of the farmer. PRIME MINISTER’S EXPLANATION EXCHANGES OF VIEWS WITH HOMELAND. By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, March 26. The Prime Minister, in a telephone interview with the Press this evening, concerning the London cable message, foreshadowing the doom of the Ottawa agreements, said that the message referred to a cablegram received recently from the British Government, disclosing a definite declaration of policy to regulate the Home market, in order to increase price levels, and alleviate the position of the British producer. This cablegram and others, which had passed between the Dominion and the British Government, had been announced at the recent Dairy Conference in Wellington. The New Zealand Government had asked whether the adoption of a practically free tariff on British goods, would enable New Zealand to obtain the free entry of her produce to the British market. The British Government had replied that the tariff and the quota problems were quite separate, and Britain was already committed to a policy of regulation of imports.

Mr Forbes said he doubted whether Mr Thomas had intended to give the impression referred to by the political correspondent of “The News Chronicle.” The message sounded very like political speculation, and it should be treated as such. The British Government’s reply to New Zealand’s representations had merely indicated that no discrimination could be made among various parts of the Empire.