BUTTER QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1933, Page 5

BUTTER QUESTION

AND OTTAWA PACT

OBSERVATIONS BY N.Z. PREMIER.

(Pe Press Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, March 24

In a. statement to-day,, Mr Forbes says that the restriction of the volume of butter entering . into the United Kingdom from Empire sourceshas at no tune been suggested by the New Zealand Government. Nor, so far as he is aware, have such proposals been advanced or supported either by the N.Z. Dairy Board or ;any other responsible person in the industry. He said: “We have at all times sought >a free market for all Empire produce entering the United Kingdom, and any other arrangement runs counter to our whole accepted policy.”

He says: “Requests were made at Ottawa on behalf of the N.Z. Dairy Board, supported by the Government. These included the restriction of the volume of the imports of butter into the United Kingdom from foreign sources; and the outcome of the conference, so far as butter was concerned, was that the British Government agreed to give her Dominion, produce a preference of fifteen shillings per h undredweight over foreign > produce by the imposition of duty to that amount on the foreign butter, leaving the Empire blitter free. -The British Government -also, agreed for i& period of at least three years that no restriction would be placed on the imports of our butter into the United Kingdom.” Mr Forbes further says: - “Subsepressure at Home .led the Ministers and the Government there to 'suggest that the butter imports from all sources should be restricted for ia period.” .> - " , ' ’’

CHECK TO MEAT IMPORTS

BRITISH MARKET’S CONTRACTION

[LONDON, > March 23. In the House of Commons, replying to a series of. questions, Major Elliot, for the Government, said that in . accordance with . the Ottawa, agreement the British imports of 'South American frozen lamb, mutton and beef would be fifteen per cent, lower, for the June quarter than for . the corresponding quarter of 1932. This! compared with a 10 per.cent, reduction for the current quarter. ' He added that, as the result of negotiation® the South 'American ‘chilled beef imports into Britain for'the June quarter wild be five per cent.-higher of these quantities had remained at a lower level than was contemplated at Ottawa. The imports of,Australian and New Zealand frozen mutton and lamb remained ns was agreed at Ottawa. ■ i