QUOTA POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1933, Page 5

QUOTA POLICY

, TO RAISE PRICES ‘

N.Z. DELEGATES ARE CONCERNED

[United Press Association—By Electric

1 elegrapii—Copyright;.

LONDON, July ll

There is increasing advocacy or the quota principle as a means of raising the level* of produce prices. This is causing Messrs. Forbes and Masters considerable concern. - ■;

Sir Austen Chamberlain, Hon. W. C. Runciman , (president of the Board of Trade), and Sir P. Cunliffe Lister (Secretary for the Colonies) have each spoken in favour of a system of control over the production of foodstuffs, though stating that the plans in this direction require the support of a large number of the producing countries.. 1 , *

Major Elliot (British Minister of Agriculture) is a particularly strong advocate of the regulation of both production and exports on , the part of the supplying countries, as a mentis ot raising the prices of their produce to the British farmers. . In a recent speech, he said that, despite the present 20 per cent. British tariff, 18,000 , tons more butter has this year been supplied to Britain than in the same period last year. In submitting tbe Agricultural Department estimates in the House of Commons to-day. Major Elliot sought to show that Britain’s application of ; the quotas to meat, bacon, wheat and hops had undoubtedly raised the prices of these products to the British producers. The Economic Conference sub-com-mittees have so far considered the application of quotas to wheat, wine, sugar, coal and wood; but now Poland has submitted a draft resolution to the conference committee on the coordination of production and marketing to the effect that the Governments of the butter-exporting countries should set up, without delay, an international' dairy council for the following objects: (1) To study means of reducing the competition between such countries in general, and on rat. ioned markets in particular; (2) to ensure a better distribution throughout the year, thus eliminating gluts at certain''seasons ill certain markets ; (3) .to study the ; possibilities of better international standardisation/ - 7

This resolution has yet' ! to be dealt 'with. ' : - i Messrs Forbes arid Masters ; are in close consultation With the Chairman of the New Zealand Produce Boards, and are also'BH’olding 1 frequent meetings with the 'British Cabinet. RATIONING OF PRODUCTION. Ji DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS. “ BONBON, July 11. pfln the House of Commons, Major (Minister of Agriculture) said the Department of Industry wa s examining plans for the rationing of production. Their meat prices were still unsatisfactory, and they justified arrangements being made to reduce the importations o< chilled beef by ( 19,000 tons; 1 He said the supplies of the Australian and New Zealand frozen mutton and lamb are already subject to a 20 per cent, cut, which would be increased to- 25 per cent, next quarter.

The dairy produce situation, he said, was causing grave concern. This year eighteen thousand tons more butter was put on the market than last year. The price of the Dominions’ butter had fallen from 105 s to 755, thus showing the necessity for regulating the overseas supplies, as they also desired to do with Home production.