DAIRY INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1933, Page 5

DAIRY INDUSTRY

N.Z. OPPOSITION

INTERNATIONAL CONTROL PLAN.

(United Press Association— By Electric

leiegrapn—oopyngnt.;

LONDON, July 14.

At the international con.eience rue committee on tne ca-ordination of piod act.An and marketfing Ao-cluy cussed the proposal,of tiie Polish dele gation that the butter exporting couu tries should set up without, delay ,an international dairy council , for the following purposes:—(l) To study means of reducing competition on the markets; (2) to ensure better distribution of butter and to prevent gluts in certain seasons and on contain markets; (3) to • study the possibilities of better standardisation of butter.

The Hon. R. Masters, on behalf oi New Zealand ,recalled that the Conference already had rigidly accepted New Zealand, recalled that' the Conthe principle that agreements for the co-ordination of production and marketing must first command general assent amongst'the countries and. the support of a substantial majority of the producers themselves; also, that it should have the co-operation of hoxiexporting countries and the willing consent of consuming interests in importing countries, He; pointed out that the Polish proposal was to set up a council without delay to do specific things, but no provision had been made for securing the feeling of the countries concerned. He could say that the proposal to set up' a council did not meet with the approval of the New Zealand delegation. Mr Masters added that while, like the British delegation, he adhered to the principle already enunciated 1 that there should be no alteration in the marketing of dairy produce, lie was not ayetrse- to the settlig up a.y. drafting commmittee to explore ilie position, but such a committee !; should have its scope extended •to ’inquiring into the effect on the market of butter substitutes, 1 such a s margarine. While not agreeing s with the• Polish 1 resolu- ( tion, he. was ! disposed to give support to the suggestion 'of the Italian delegation which would,' in effect, ' leave the matter for a joint recommendation at some future date front the Inter-' national IhStitute- of Agriculture, theInternational Dairy' Federation,' and the economic . committees' of the’ league of Nations Regarding measures for the regulation of co-ordination of the production and marketing of dairy produce. ■ .... vz - 7<y

GENERAL LONDON COMMENT.

empire meeting next week.

LONDON, July 14. Tho Empire delegates here wiir reassemble nest week in connection with the regulation of the Dominions’ trade in foodstuffs,

The British representatives continue to urge the voluntary acceptance o' 1 quotas wherewith to replace duties. They are citing the effects of the Ottawa agreements, whereby meat prices in Britain have risen under the influence of the quotas imposed, whereas the price of butter has fallen under the duties.

Evidently the British consider that some of the Dominion delegates to 'the Conference have been convinced that glutg have chaotic effects on prices, but that the delegates cannot impress the Dominion Governments and farmers, whose remoteness geographically prevents their appreciation of facts.

New Zealand cables on the matter were read here with interest, especially because the New Zealand farmers show hostility to the regulation of tlidir exports, *which hostility contrasts with the pamphlet that was recently issued by Mr J. G. Coates, the Acting. Premier (which favoured the idea of quotas for dairy produce). It is here considered that the New Zealand faimers attitude probably will prevent Mr Forbes from committing the Dominion Government to the regulation of British imports, , Failure on the part of the Dominion to co-operate will be equally disastrous to both the Home and the Dominion fame s. Probably j t will necessitate substantial revisions of tbe Ottawa agreements covering meat and dairy products.

The movement to -terminate the Economic Conference has brought the regulation of dairy products-" within the Conference’s ambit, but Mr Bruce (Australian delegate) declines to participate in these discussions pending Monday’s Anglo-Dominion meeting Nothing further has happened lating to restriction, of Dominion meat and dairy exports. The Dominions have made it clear that they have gone the limit of their contributions, and the next proposals must come from Britain.

The latest suggestions encompass an agreement in which the Argentine would be a party, but smne of the Dominions, while not rejecting tli G practicablencns of this, raise the point that if Argentina participates primarily as a meat country, what about the dairy countries—not only Denmark hut all the Scandinavnns? These probabilities naturally contra on the ideal of the creation of a sterling bloc, which, however, gains no ■definiteness. Major Ell.at, who, by the way, "repudiates the New Zealand suggestion that his r.pefi' li on Tuesday implied any threat of. rei ibvtivc measures if New Zealand’s tariff where not reduced, had to take a hand in guiding to-day’s debate into the: safer haven of .a sub-com-mittee, in which .the great; butter-pro-

ducing" countries would be better able to manage the discussion. Incidentally, Major Elliot reiterated the point that the United Kingdom was determined systematically to increase its percentage of home-grown dairy produce. Mr Masters said that New Zealand favoured Major Elliot’s proposal for a sub-committee to consider all the proposals and report next week. This was agreed to and New Zealand was 'appointed to the sub-commit-tee.