BUTTER BROIL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 8

BUTTER BROIL

RESTRICTING EXPORT

WHO SUGGESTED IT?

NEW ZEALAND, NOT BRITAIN

STATEMENT AT CANBERRA

pnited Press Association—By Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright. (Received Marfcli 24, 10 a.m.)

CANBERRA, This Day. , Another heated discussion in the House of Representatives on the proposed restriction of butter exports ended only when the closure was applied amidst uproar. Both the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. J. H. Scullin) and Mr. J. A. Beasley were accused of attempting to mislead the House.

Mr. B. H. Corser said that the House had not been informed by the At-torney-General (Mr. J. G. Latham) of the real position in regard to butter. The original proposal for the restriction of exports of Dominion butter originated in Great Britain. Mr. Corser quoted New Zealand Press reports which showed the, strong opposition by the Dominion Government and the New Zealand Dairy Board to any restriction. Mr. Latham replied that this did not alter the fact that his statement of Tuesday that the British Governmen had exerted no pressure upon the Commonwealth Government, and that actually the negotiations had been opened by the New Zealand Government, was correct. He was at a loss to understand why Mr. Corser should go out of his way to make charges of deceit. Mr. Latham said that he had given the House the facts as stated by the Australian Minister in London (Mr. S. M. Bruce). Mr. Bruce had sent a message to the Government that the Secretary of State for the Dominions, the High Commissioner of New Zealand, and himself had discussed a proposal made by New Zealand for a 25 per cent, restriction on imports into England of foreign butter.

Mr. Beasley: Yes, that is on foreign butter. Mr.,Latham: That is how the discussion began. The. question then was how could restrictions be. imposed on foreign butter without some restriction on Dominion butter. There has been amazing -Press propaganda about Britain attempting to dictate to the Dominions. There has been no such attempt made. -Mr. Scullin said that Mr. Latham had stated quite definitely that the question of restricting imports to Britain had been raised by the New Zealand Government. His own impression now was that New Zealand had raised the question of restricting foreign imports, and that in response to that request Britain had suggested that the Dominions should share in the restriction.. Mr. Scullin asked Mr. Latham whether his statement was not intended to give the impression only that the suggestion for the restriction of Dominions' produce came from New Zealand.

Mr. Latham: It meant what it said,

Mr. Beasley said that Mr. Scullin had exposed what had.actually happened. If no pressure had been applied to the Control Board in Australia, why had the board carried a resolution asking the Government to stay its hand, while it consulted the New Zealand producers.

Mr. Latham said that the information had been supplied to the board on the butter production in England, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

There was an uproar when the Minister of Health (Mr. C. W. C. Marr) moved that the debate be adjourned. .

The motion was carried by 29 Votes to 22. Six jCountry Party members and two Independents voted with the Federal and Lang Labour members against the motion.