SALE TO BRITAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20044, 16 September 1939, Page 14

SALE TO BRITAIN

SURPLUS PRODUCE MEAT, WOOL BUTTER STATE SOLE BUYER WAR-TIME FOOD SUPPLY WHOLE OF RESOURCES f Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this clay. “Negotiations with the Government of the' United Kingdom for the purchase of our primary products were commenced immediately c>.i the outbreak of war end are still continuing, saicl the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, in the House of Representitives yesterday afternoon. “The basis of our represent actions is that the procedure to be adopted should provide that no advantage or profit shall accrue to anyone on account of war conditions. Working on this' basis, some thought has boon given to: (a) The price to be paid by' the United Kingdom for produce from other countries; Co) the price and procedure to be followed by the United Kingdom when disposing of its purchases from the Dominion; (c) the desirability of maintaining the Dominion’s trade relations with other countries; (d) safeguards to cover advances in prices and other costs of imported commodities, together with fe) the steps necessary to avoid a disorganised marketing system at the conclusion of hostilities. Government Function “Keeping these major points in mind, the Government has advised His ■Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom that the whole of the products and resources of the Dominion in the surplus over our own needs are at the disposal of the United KingdomSome time will be required to introduce the necessary administrative machinery in the Dominion, but the general principles have been determined. If the negotiations are satisfactorily completed, the New Zealand Government will become the sole buyer in the Dominion of all butter. Cheese, meat and wool, and these products will bo sold direct to the United Kingdom Government, who will be the sole distributor in the United Kingdom. Members of the staff of our marketing organisations •in. London have been transferred to the service of the United Kingdom • Government to carry out the executive work in connection with distribution. Extension of Power “These arrangements will entail an extension, of the Primary Products Marketing Act to cover the purchase of meat and wool.

“Negotiations with regard to fruit and other exportable products will toe opened as soon as the major principles relative to meat, wool and dairy produce have been decided. The Government will keep the House informed as the negotiations -proceed. Measures will also toe introduced to ensure that the Government has full financial control of the resources of the Dominion, and the legislation necessary for this purpose will be introduced on. either Tuesday or Wednesday of the coming week. "The objective of the Government is to make its major contribution, whatever sacrifices that may entail, to the prosecution of the war. The Government has determined to use all the nation's resources to this endpersonal, material and financial.