WELL PLEASED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 206, 25 August 1932, Page 3

WELL PLEASED

FARMERS’ UNION PRESIDENT WITH OTTAWA CONCESSIONS (Per Press Association) STRATFORD, Last Night. “There is no doubt of the substantial concessions the Dominions are receiving in trade,” said Mr W. J. Polson, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, when dealing with the results achieved at Ottawa. Nobody could- say exactly what New Zealand had got, but he believed we had got much more than was suggested in the bare cable news. The fact that the Dominions wore to have preference, and in return were to reduce the tariff on British goods, must be in itself a mutual advantage, though “hot-house” industries would create a great noise if British manufacturers were to be placed on the level of “Dominion competition,” said Mir Polson. It would entail remarkable changes in the organisation of industry, but would have an immediate effect on the cheapening of living and working costs offering some hope to the farmer. The Quota Principle “Most important of all is the recognition of the principle of the quota for meat. Quotas arc the king pin and pivot upon which our industry depends,” said Mr Polson. “Without them the cheap labour and low-living conditions of the foreign competitor would ultimately force us in New Zealand to the same level. Foreign produce would still flood Britain; the only difference would be that the foreigner would get less by the amount of the duty for his goods. The quota would keep his proportion of Britain’s requirements within limits and enable us to maintain and increase our supply. I regret it is not applied to butter.” Expresses Astonishment Mr Polson expressed astonishment at opposition to the quota by some members of the Meat Board. The board acted in New Zealand as agent, for all the producing interests in the negotiations with other Empire producers’ organisations. The plan presented to the Government and urged at Ottawa was public property in April last, the Meat Board taking a prominent part in its promulgation. “No reasons have been advanced by these gentlemen for their peculiar activities in this connection,” said Mr Polson. “Presumably they have no objection to South American cheap labour and untaxed land driving our farmers out of the British meat market. Fortunately wiser counsels prevailed. ; Meat Men’s Longer View “The British delegation had taken ; a long view, realising however much ; English capital may. bo invested in • South America, the national spirit ! growing there was very different from ’ the sentiment of the Dominions, in j whose increasing population and trade > lies Britain’s hope,” he said. Appar- ! ently groups of delegates at Ottawa had to make a choice between a prefer- ■: ential duty and a quota. The meat

people went for the quota, and the butter people for a higher duty of 15s a cwt. Both probably were justified because the conditions in the two industries are not the same, but .1 think the meat men took the longer view.