Forecast On Butter Quota

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31004, 9 March 1966, Page 1

Forecast On Butter Quota

CV Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 8. Australia and New Zealand will receive an extra 13,000 tons on their butter quotas supplied each year to Britain, the “Daily 7 Express’’ forecast today.

The quotas are expected to be announced in the House of Commons tomorrow, after weeks of negotiations in London. They will take effect on April 1. Housewives would have more cheap butter than ever before, the newspaper said. “Nearly half a million tons will pour into the shops as a result of the import quotas." said the report. “The size of the imports will bring bitter protests from New Zealand farmers, who claim they have been let down by Britain. “They say they are already losing about £5 million through the British Government's policy of forcing down prices by increasing imports particularly of ‘dumped’ butter from countries like France. “Basic quotas are expected to increase from 420,000 tons to about 450,000 tons at the peak of the season. “This will include an extra 10.000 tons granted to Ireland and about 13.000 tons for Australia and New Zealand. Another 50.000 tons of 1

butter is expected from Britain’s own farms.” The price forecast was several pennies off the pound putting the cheapest blends well below 3s per lb. The Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) said in Wellington today the report only claimed to be a forecast and was not closely related to the final butter quota agreement between New Zealand and Britain. “Some of the figures quoted are nearer the original opening position of the British Government, although in the negotiations the quantities were reduced considerably,” he said.