BUTTER RESTRICTIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18925, 20 April 1933, Page 7

BUTTER RESTRICTIONS

MR COATES’ STATEMENT.

MUBT OONBIDER ALL ASPECTS.

NEED FOR CO-OPERATION.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

DARGAVILLE, Wenesday.

Reference to the export of butter and to proposals for regulating supplies to Britain was made by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Finance, in an address to his constituents at Ruawai yesterday. Mr. Coates counselled the producers to examine the whole position with care. He would not be dogmatic as to which policy was the wisest. New Zealand had vested a considerable power and responsibility in the Daily Produce Board as representing the Industry and the voice of the industry Would, of course, have the most careful consideration of the Government. It was up to the producers and the country as a whole to look very carefully into the position and to examine alternative possibilities. The question vvas whether It would be -wise to regulate exports to the United Kingdom for the purpose of raising prices or preventing a further decline, continued Mr. Coates, The method of regulating production by supply and demand was one that caused much hardship and was _ in many ways unsatisfactory. In Britain there was a growing tendency to accept regulation of quantities for the purpose of maintaining mOre orderly marketing conditions. This development was one which New Zealand could not afford' to ignore.

“it is possible,” said Mr. Coates, "that in rejecting regulation of exports to the United Kingdom we are doing the wrong thing. Wo must keep in mind the attitude of the British farmers and it is clearly in our own interests to work in co-operation with the Government of the United Kingdom." FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. STATEMENT BY AIR POLSON. SUPPORT FOR BOARD URGED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Dairy Produce quotas' were considered by the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day. The following resolution was passed: —That the New Zealand Farmers' Union emphatically urges that the spirit of the Ottawa Agreement must be given full effect to, and strongly condemns any support of the fatal principle of quotas. It further urges that all rural interests should adopt a common platform standing on the agreement and demanding that it be interpreted in the spirit In which it was intended —namely, offering Britain such tariff adjustments as will secure reciprocal advantages from a continuation of it. It commends the action of the New Zealand Dairy Board in regard to the question of quotas, and offers Its support in maintaining that attitude at all costs.

SECRET CONCLAVE.

DISCUSSION CONTINUED

SYDNEY, April IS

The New Zealand and Australian dairying delegales'conferred again today on the restriction of exports proposal, and are to continue their discussions to-morrow.

Vfhe utmost secrecy is being observed and delegates interrogated separately were not prepared to disclose the trend of the discussions. However, an official 'statement is expected at the close of the conference.

The reference by Mr. Handbury to the New Zealand Dairy Board’s suggested regulation of shipment is taken in dairying circles to mean that Australia and New Zealand should each reduce shipments by 1000 tons in each month March, April, May. New Zealand's butter exports for the current season were recently estimated at 120,000 tons, and 1000 tons a month would be a reduction of 10 per cent, in the export total.

NOT SOUND POLICY.

LOW PRICES AND BRITAIN

EXTENDING THE MARKET. “I am opposed to quota restrictions being placed on imports of Now Zealand butter into the United Kingdom,” stated Mr 11. G. Dickie, M.P. for Patea, when interviewed by a Waikato Times reporter this morning. “At the same time I do not think' anything official on the subject lias been forwarded by the British Government to the New Zealand Government. “If we let exports of butter go forward as at present and have to accept lower prices, those who are now eating margarine in Britain will turn to butter, and will not go hack to Hie. former. If we accept the low prices now and they improve later we will have educated a greater number of people to include butler in their daily life, and therefore have created an extended market. Wc cannot consume Ihe surplus locally. “In Taranaki we are agreed that a quota would get us nowhere.

“All this talk about opening markets in the Hast will not get. ns anywhere. Singapore might lake a small quantity ot meal for Hie provisioning of ships, hut we have found from experience, that the peoples of the Orient do not want butter. W’liaL trade there is in I hat jconrnddil y is mostly in Australian hands. The Commonwealth has also direct shipping communication, an advantage which Is denied us. Making Adjustments. “With produce prices low wo must face the inevitable slide in laud values. We have, he’ll making adjustments all the time, but the markets have been sliding downwards all the time, so we must make up our minds to further adjustments.. The lowering of interest rates and legislation in regard to mortgages have provided a buffer, and are, helping to break I tin farmers' fall." concluded Mr Dickie. “In Taranaki we have found that in the majority of eases mortgagors arc meeting mortgagees far below the statutory adjustments.''