HON. R. MASTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1933, Page 5

HON. R. MASTERS

AN INTERVIEW INTERESTING STATEMENTS. (Per Press Association—Copyright). NEW' PLYMOUTH, September 22. In. the course of an interview, the Hon. R. Masters said the question of quotas was a very prominent one before the Conference and was dealt with by the delegates appointed to the Economic Committee. The- Conference was divided into two sections monetary on tli, a one side, and economic on the other, wliile the Prime Minister represented the Dominion on the monetary side, 1 was the representative on the economic side, and. on the special committee set up to deal with the question of the co-ordination of -production and marketing. Ido not think there is anyone who deludes himself into believing that the World Conference was a success, measured by definite- agrements and tangible results. At the same time, however, there were many elements of value. Problems may be solved. They will have a most important bearing upon the future of this Dominion. The New Zealand delegation was particularly concerned with discussions relating to the supply and marketing of farm products; “The United Kingdom Ministers, who were amongst the strongest supporters of the principle of quantitative regulation, drafted a set of rules, and these were Adopted at the Conference. Dairy products were not dealt with in the same details as some other commodities.

‘■Regulations were submitted, in keeping with the trend towards the regulation of supplies, in favour of setting up an International Dairy Council. New Zealand took the view that thjs International Control Council would be -premature. The closing stages of the Conference were fast approaching when this was under discussion, and nothing binding was entered into- so far as dairy products are concerned; but, in regard to all farm products, the strength of the move toward quantitative control, and the approach to unanimity amongst all the importing countries, were features to be noted. “Of direct concern to all countries that supply the United Kingdom market is the power given by the 1933 Act for the regulation of the volume of imports. Schemes of control in the United Kingdom have been drawn up for pigs and bacon, for milk and milk products, and potatoes. Furthermore, wheat is dealt with under a quota. Sugar beet and hops have control schemes. With regard to fish, action has been taken to regulate the quatity allowed on the market. Regarding fat stock, a Reorganisation Commission (concerned with beef, mutton and lamb) is now sitting, and the Government has announced its intention of setting up a reorganisation commission regarding eggs and poultry. “One of the greatest of the difficulties is the impossibility of separating butter and cheese, and it is cheese that the United Kingdom farmers are particularly anxious, to have broughtwithin a comprehensive scheme of control. The fanners in the United Kingdom are taking this matter very seriously, as is indicated by the fact that the salaries of the General Manager and some of the other chief executive officers of the Milk Control Scheme are from £SOOO to £7500 per annum. We recognise, and the producers in New Zealand will recognise, the importance of keeping the goodwill of the United Kingdom. Difficulties can be best overcome by discussion, and we took the view that this is a farmer’s problem. “In leaving the matter open and in not agreeing to the qtlota proposals, the New Zealand Ministers in London took notice of the principle stressed by the British Ministers, and agreed to by the World Economic Conference, viz: Any scheme (this affirmed) should in the first instance, command a general measure of assent amongst the exporting countries, 'and ,within these countries, a substantial majority of the producers themselves. Whatever* else was to be said for or against the quota, the New Zealand representatives in London had to take notice of the very strongly-repressed opposition in the Dominion to the suggested quota on dairy produce. Accepting the view that it is a fanners’ problem, we extended an invitation to the National Farmers’ Union of Great Britain to send direct representatives to Nbw Zealand. Hence the visit- of Mr Baxter, who arrived in New Zealand yesterday with the object of going fully into the problem of the entry of our dairy oroduee into Hie United Kingdom, with representatives of our fanning industry.