A DENIAL GIVEN

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1933, Page 5

A DENIAL GIVEN

CHECK ON BUTTER

RESTRICTION INITIATED BY N.Z.

(United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph— Copyright)

LONDON March. 23. British Government circles g i Ve an emphatic denial to the “Daily.■HeraldV’ assertions, that Britain inspired the butter restrictions. It- j fi reiterated by Government circles that New Zealand initiated the restriction and that Britain is not wedded to restriction. ,Sh e would gladly consider any scheme to raise prices, but the Domfnimifi offer no alternative to restriction. .Britain would readily agree to the Dominions sending unrestricted exports, but the Dominions’ prices would inevitably be jeopardised. It is pointed out that any restriction on foreign butter, without, a Dominion restriction, would defeat its own object, because foreign dairy imports ■have dwindled in the past few years, whereas Australian and New' Zealand imports have vastly increased. The delay in arriving at a decision ■regarding the 'butter restrictions has caused prices to fall. Meanwhile, i n anticipation of restrictions, Continent has been sending large quantities here. Twentysix thousand hundredweight of Siberian butter has arrived sinc e the middle of February, compared with nothing in the corresponding period of 1932. Importers fear that, prices will decline further, unless restrictions are quickly imposed. An illustration of the effect of restrictions is offered by bacon, for which the. price has risen 3 per cent, in .four months, since the quota was imposed. Danish bacon is now fetching the same pric e as Australian butter, instead of about half of it, as was usual formerly.

COMMONWEALTH DISCUSSIONS,

FURTHER HEATED PASSAGES

'CANBERRA, March 24

Another heated discussion in the ■Federal House of Representatives, on the proposed restriction T of butter exports) ended only when the closure was applied, amid uproar. ■ Both Mr J. H. Scullin (Opposition Leader) and Mr Beasley (Leader of the Langites) accused the Government of attempting to mislead House. Finally there was an uproar when the Minister of Health (Mr Marr) moved that th e debate. adjourned. The motion w-r agreed to by 29 votes to 22. 'Six of the Country party members atid two Independents voted with the 'Federal alid Lang Labour parties against the motion, During the debate, Mr Corsep said that the Houg e had. not been informed by Mr Latham, the Attorney-General of the real position with regard to butter. The original proposal for the restriction of the butter exports of Dominion butter originated in Great Britain. Mr Corser quoted New Zealand press reports of the strong opposition by the Dominion Government and th e New Zealand Dairy Board, to a.ny restriction. Mr Latham replied that this did not alter the fact that his statement of Tuesday last was correct, namely, that

the British Government had exerted no pressure upon the Commonwealth Government, and that actually the negotiations had been opened by the New Zealand Government. 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 a$ stated by the Australian resident minister at London, Mr S. Bruce. On January 26, the resident minister sent a message to the Government, stating that Air J. H. Thomas, the secretary of State for tile Dominions, the High Commissioner for New Zealand and himself, discussed a proposal made by New Zealand, for a 25 per cent restriction. on imports into England of foreign but er. Mr Beasley: “Yet, that is on foreign butter.

Mr Latham : “That’s how the discussion began. The question then was, how could restrictions be imposed upon foreign butter, without some restriction on Dominion butter? There has been an amazing press propaganda about Britain attempting to dictate to the Dominions, but there had been no such attempt made.”

Air Scullin said that Mr Latham had stated quite definitely that the question of restricting exports to Britain bod been raised by the New Zealand Government. Mis own impression now was that New Zealand bad raised the question of restricting foreign imports and in response to that request, Britain bad been raised by the New Zealand Government. His own impression now was that- New Zealand had raised the question of restricting foreign imports and in response to that request, Britain had suggested that the Dominions should share in the restriction.

Mi- Beni in asked Mr Latham whether L.is statement was not intended to give the impression only that the suggestion for the restriction of Dominions’ produce came from New Zealand. Air Lath m : It meant what it said.

Mi’ Bensle • said that Air Scullin had expressed what actually happened. If no pressure had been Applied to the Butter- Control Board in Australia, why had the board carried a resolution asking tho Government to stay jts

hand, while it consulted the New Zealand producers? Mr Latham said that .information had been supplied to the hoard of butter production in England, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.