QUOTA EXTENSIONS COMING?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 163, 13 July 1933, Page 5

QUOTA EXTENSIONS COMING?

STRONG BRITISH ADVOCACY MEANS OF RAISING PRIMARY PRODUCE PRICES NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES GREATLY CONCERNED (Special Io United Press Association). Received July 12, 5.15 p.m. LONDON. July 11 The increasing; advocacy of the quota principle as a means of raising the level of produce prices, is causing Messrs, horbes and Masters considerable concern. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Mr. Walter Runciman, and Sir Cunliffe-Lister have each spoken in favour of a system of control over the production of foodstuffs. though stating that the plans in this direction require the support of a large number of producing countries. Major Elliot, British Minister for Agriculture, is a particularly strong advocate of the regulation of production and exports on the part of supplying countries, as a means of raising prices to the British farmers. In a recent speech he said that despite the 20 per cent, tariff, 18,000 tons more butter was supplied to Britain than during the same period last year. In submitting the agricultural estimates in the House of Commons to-day, he sought to show that the application of quotas to the supply of meat, bacon, wheat and hops had undoubtedly raised prices to the British producers. Major Elliot said that the Department of Industry was examining plans for rationing production. Meat prices were still unsatisfactory and justified the arrangements made to reduce importations of chilled beef by 19.000 tons. Supplies of Australian and New Zealand frozen mutton and lamb were already subject to a 20 per cent, cut, which would be increased to 25 per cent, next quarter. The dairy produce situation was causing grave concern this year. Eighteen thousand tons more butter had been put on the market than last, and the price of the Dominions’ butter had fallen from 105 s to 75s per cwt., showing the necessity for regulating overseas supplies, as they desired to do with home production. The Conference Sub-Committees so far have considered the application of quotas to wheat, wine, sugar, coal and wood, but now Poland has submitted a draft resolution to the Conference Committee on the co-ordination of the production and marketing of that Government’s butter. Exporting countries should set up without delay an International Dairy Council to: — (1) Study the means of reducing competition between such countries in general and on rationing markets in particular. (2) Ensure better distribution throughout the year, ’.liminating gluts in certain seasons and in certain markets. (3) Study the possibilities of better international standardisation. This resolution has yet to be dealt with. Messrs. Forbes and Masters are in close consultation with the chairmen of the New Zealand Produce Boards and are bolding frequent meetings with the British Cabinet.