CHARGE DENIED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1939, Page 3

CHARGE DENIED

MINISTER AND FRENCH WOOL BUYERS INTERIEW NOT REFUSED. NEGOTIATIONS OPENED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “It was unfortunate for the MidCanterbury executive of the Farmers’ Union that it accepted blindly the misstatements of the national president of the union concerning the French woolbuyers instead of ascertaining the true facts,” said the Minister of Customs, Mr Nash, when referring before his departure from Wellington for Auckland last night to the discussion at a meeting of the executive last week. He denied a statement that he had refused an interview to the French Consul and the French woolbuyers, and said the uniop could have discovered the fact if it had taken the trouble to inquire from anyone who was connected with the matter. “I have seen the French woolbuyers and discussea the position thoroughly with them,” added Mr Nash. “I have also met the French Consul on the subject and assured him that if he will supply the Government with information concerning articles that can be imported from France without injuring the trade of the United Kingdom or unfairly discriminating against any other nation, we shall give immediate consideration to the possibility of establishing trade on a reciprocal basis.

“I would be the first to resent discourtesy to any consul accredited to this Government or to representatives of overseas firms trading with the Dominion. Neither the Consul for France nor any other representative of an overseas nation has been refused an interview. If mutual agreement can be reached the Dominion will gladly extend the ‘most favoured nation’ provision to France and the consul has been advised accordingly.”

The following Press Association message from Ashburton was sent out on Saturday:—-“The Mid-Canterbury executive of the Farmers’ Union entertered an emphatic protest against the action of the Minister of Marketing in refusing an interview to the French Consul and .French woolbuyers, thus bringing about the withdrawal of their competition at recent wool sales, resulting in a further decrease in price. The resolution added that any retaliatory measure overseas countries may adopt Decause of restriction of their exports to New Zealand must necessarily serious affect the returns to New Zealand’s primary producers, thus decreasing their ability to purchase goods manufactured in New Zealand.”