EMPIRE PRODUCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 78, 2 April 1938, Page 9

EMPIRE PRODUCE

BRITAIN AND THE DOMINIONS CONFERENCE AT SYDNEY I ! NEW ZEALAND FEARS OF RESTRICTION HOPE FOR WORKABLE SCHEME [By Telegraph-Press Association-Cop; i ightj Received April 1, 11.45 p.m. SYDNEY, April 1. The trend of the discussion at the I British Empire Producers’ Conference to-day again indicated the possibility of the British delegation’s proposals for producer control in the regulation of exports reaching the United Kingdom market, forming the basis of a compromise. Mr. Cleveland Fyfe, one British delegate, emphasised that with the rejection of the ’ British proposals there would be no alternative constructive proposal, and that under the British plan there was no intention of imposing levies. Mr. T. C. Brash (New Zealand) said that he refused to believe that the British Government and British people were asking them to accept a position under which they were to be led to restrictions or the imposition of levies. Messrs. A. Murdoch and H. Mellsop (New Zealand) were among the speakers. Mr. Mellsop said that the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, 38 years ago, had fought for the freest trade with the United Kingdom. He added that if restrictions were imposed, then it must be done by the British Government. The British delegations proposals, in their present form, could not be accepted by the New Zealand representatives. The conference adjourned. Mr. W. W. Mulholland (New Zealand), in an interview to-night by the New Zealand Press Association, said that Sir Reginald Dorman Smith’s • proposals, cabled yesterday, seemed to most Dominion delegates to envisage greater restrictions on Dominion produce. British delegates claimed that their object was to get Empire producers to come together to form an organisation, or organisations, which would regulate or control the marketing of their produce. Delegates did not doubt the honesty of purpose of their British colleagues, but the resolution was clearly open to the interpretation that the producers themselves had invited, or had approved, of a quantitive restriction. Mr. Mulholland added that while the resolution, or suggested amendments, had not been put to the conference, neither had they been withdrawn. The debate had ended with an agreement that the leaders of the various delegations would come together in committee, see whether it was possible to reconcile all the views, and then evolve satisfactory or positive action. Mr. Mulholland expressed the opinion that there was no need for any producers to be unduly alarmed as a result of what was happening at the conference. Delegates had agreed that restrictions were out of the question, and so far as New Zealand was concerned the producers would not allow themselves to be fettered.