QUOTA RESTRICTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 164, 14 July 1933, Page 5

QUOTA RESTRICTION

BRITISH FOOD IMPORTS STRENGTH OF MOVEMENT POWERFUL INFLUENCES DAIRY PRODUCE SUPPLIES (4Speeial to United Press Assn.) Received July 13. 5.20 p.m. LONDON, July 12. General approval is accorded by most sections of the Press to Major Elliot’s speech in the House of Commons. This is a clear indication of the strength of the movement behind the quota proposals in cases ■where it can be shown, as the Minister sought yesterday to ao, tiiat tne application of the principle is necessary to raise the prices of British produce. It is also increasingly obvious that a very powerful political influence is at work to bring about limitation of imports, as the best way to help the Home farmers. Major Elliott is at present concentrating on dairy produce, in regard to which he has declared that stable conditions for British dairying can be reached only if overseas supplies are regulated. He has also stated that there must be further limitations of imports of beef. Free State Apprehensive. The Irish Free State, apparently, is apprehensive, as a Bill recently introduced into the Dail at short notice is designed to meet the quota system in Britain. The Bill gives power to the Free State Minister of Agriculture to regulate the export of any agricultural product falling under import quotas in anv country, so as to secure for Free State exporters the maximum benefits permitted by such system of control. The latest development of the control system applies to fish, a provisional agreement having been come to between Britain and Germany for the regulation of fish supplies by .Gorman fishermen to the British market. URGENT DEMAND application of quota OTTAWA AN OBSTACLE LONDON, July 12, British Ministers suddenly summoned the Dominions delegates to a meeting in connection with the “regulation of production and marketing.” British agriculturists are so urgently demanding action through members of Parliament that the Government is endeavouring to extend the mutual restriction already applied to meat, desiring further temporary reductions m meat imports and dairy products, particularly butter. Australia and New Zealand might even have to consider reducing preserved milk exports, it is understood that Ministers are pressing the Dominions, but cannot enforce any measures owing to the Ottawa Agreement. Undoubtedly further restriction will rouse Australian and New Zealand farmers besides leading to difficulties when the Ottawa Agreement terminates. The negotiations are at present a secret, but it is hinted that all of the Ottawa Agreements may be the subject of controversy. REPORT DENIED MEETING WITH BRITISHERS. NO SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE. Received July 14, 1.30 a.m. LONDON, July 13. Official circles deny that the British Government suddenly summoned a meeting of Dominion representatives yesterday in order to suggest the temporary regulation of production and marketing with a renewed request for a reduction of of dairy pro duce and a further temporary reduction for meat. Yesterday’s meeting was a regular consultation L tween Britain and the Dominions, regarding which the Australian Press Association is informed that it is unnecessary to attach special significance. QUOTA FOR WHEAT FAVOURED IN CANADA HOW PLAN WOULD WORK Received July 13, 5.5 p.iu. WINNIPEG, July 12. A wheat expoM piaq •based ou international agiecment with the establishment of national marketing boards iu • each of the piiptipal exporting cuputries is favoured by the wheat, pools of the Western Provinces". Previously, the pools favoured acreage reduction schemes. Announcing their stand lor the quota plan, Mr. George Robertson, sec*c*ary of the buskatciiowan Wheat Pool, s»uio that it would appear a busiiciugc rather than an acreage basis would give the best hope of success, about better relationship between wneat production and consumption. Control over exports by the principal wheat exporting countries tlfrough the quota plan would tend to reliev’d pressure on the world markets and prevent one country dumping wheat • against the others. Under the international plan the individual growers would be under no restrictions as to acreage and production, but the maximum amount he could market from any given crop would bo fixed. How he treated the balance would be entirely in his own hands. Legislation enacted to provide a straight acreage reduction would be exceedingly difficult if not impossible to enforce, Mr. Robertson believed. BRITISH AGRICULTURE HOUSE APPROVES POLICY ( British Officia. Wireless, j RUGBY. Julv 12. The House of ( Jommons approved the review of the Government’s agrrcultural policy presented by Major Elliot.

The Minister took a grave view of the consequence of the continuance of low prices for primary products. While the Government's proposals had cased the situation in some respects, they were still engaged in a desperate struggle. He examined the work of the wheat quota and the probable ffeects of the brewers undertaking in increasing the use of home-grown barley, and announced that there was every reason to believe that a satisfactory arrangement concerning importation of Canadian oats would be reached. A marketing scheme for sugar beet, to take effect when the subsidy ended nejt year, was und r preparation, and international co-ordination of sugar marketing was being discussed at the London Conference. The Government was prepared to limit, but not reduce sugar growing in the United Kingdom. Major Elliot, after referring to arrangements for marketing potatoes, fruit, and bops, said that beef producers were engaged in a desperate struggle against ruinously low prices. Although importations had been reduced and the fat cattle price had advanced 8 per cent, since the autumn, the position was still far from satisfactory and further limitations would have to be imposed. The price of sheep on the other hand had increased 34 per cent, in the same period. Imported pig meat to the extent of 49,000 tons had been taken off the market without disturbing the retail market. OPPOSED TO QUOTAS FARMERS’ RESOLUTION 1 Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, July 13. The quota cablegram received by the Press was read to-day at the Farmers’ Union- Conference, which passed a resolution that the Conference vigorously opposes any Governmental step in the direction of curtailing or restricting the export of primary produce by way of a quota or otherwise, considering that any action in this direction would be inimical to the best interests of the Dominion and that the free ami unrestricted entry of our products into the British market is so vital to the prosperity of the Dominion that negotiations should be entered into with the British Government ’to ascertain on what terms this privilege could be secured, and what concession should be made with a view to obtaining it, and suggests that in order to obviate any suggestion of quotas on our primary products, we should endeavour by every means to develop free trade with the Homeland. A •committee was appointed to cable Mr Forbes setting out the farmers’ viewpoint. A remit in favour of the Government conducting State lotteries for the upkeep of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards was lost. MR COATES’ COMMENT WELLINGTON. July 13. With regard to the quota cablegram, Mr Coates said that no official intimation had been received that the Ottawa agreements were the subject of con--1 roversy. POLICY OF THE MADHOUSE AUCKLAND. July 13. “The Dairy Board is definitely and fixedly opposed to any restrictions whatever It would be the policy of the madhouse to suggest acceptance of a quota for dairy products as far as New Zealand was concerned,” said Mr W. Grounds, member of the DairyBoard. He said that from to-day’s press cable it seemed possible that the move originated from Poland and was ”inspired. ” The attitude of Messrs Forbes and Masters some time ago, had communicated with them commending their stand.