COMMODITY COUNCILS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21088, 14 July 1938, Page 9

COMMODITY COUNCILS

PRINCIPLE APPROVED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, July 13. “That this conference supports the principle of the establishment of commodity councils as outlined at the Empire Producers Conference held in Sydney, but that notification by the Union of the proposals brought down by the conference in Sydney shall not be held to attach or apply to any particular industry until or unless that industry shall signify its approval ” was a remit carried to-day at the Dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. The Dominion president, Mr W. W. Mulholland, reviewed the work of the conference held at Sydney earlier in the year, and said the commodity council was the clearinghouse for information and the body to decide what action each country should take on the question of trade. The council had no power to enforce its decisions.

Mr J. Dickey (Nelson) said the Minister of Finance was reported to have said the commodity council might come in between the British Government and the New Zealand Government on the question of trade negotiations.

Mr Mulholland said he had not read the statement alleged to have been made by tlje Minister.lf it were correct he could not understand Mr Nash making such a statement. On his return from Sydney as a member of the New Zealand delegation, said Mr Mulholland, he called on Mr Nash and explained the position carefully. At no time did a New Zealand delegation come between the British and New Zealand Governments on the question of trade negotiations. Mr H. M. Rushworth, M.P., said there was no doubt that the distress'of the British farmer was very real, but the British Government would never impose an Import duty on food. With the object of setting up a body to control exports, the British Government called a conference which was held at Sydney. Some very clever diplomats were sent out, the object being to get New Zealand to set up a commodity council ultimately with the Idea of causing a restriction in supplies. “We all agree,” Mr Rushworth added, “that our delegation did not walk into the spider’s parlour.”