QUOTA PROPOSALS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 263, 4 October 1933, Page 6

QUOTA PROPOSALS

MR BAXTER ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT. RESTRICTION—OR LOW PRICES? Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. Mr Thomas Baxter, representative of the Farmers’ Union of England and Wales, to-day addressed a meeting of members of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, together with heads of Government departments, on the subject of the application of a quota on dairy produce from New Zealand. The meeting was held in private, but it is understood that Mr Baxter broke very little fresh ground, confining liis remarks largely to statements which have already been reported. Mr Baxter, it is stated, made out a strong case for restriction of exports from New Zealand, pointing out that unless the farmers were prepared to accept some form of quota they would have to look forward to lower prices. Following the meeting, Cabinet met to discuss various aspects of the question, but the Minister of Finance (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) stated this afternoon that there was nothing further lie could say for publication. Mr Baxter, who left by the Makura this afternoon for England, via America, expressed keen appreciation of the hospitality extended to himself and Mrs Baxter while in the Dominion, and said he would never forget the people or the country. Mr Baxter was the guest of the Gov-ernor-General and the Lady Bledisloe at luncheon at Government House to-day. ENGLISH DELEGATE’S STANDING. REPRESENTATIVE OF GOVERNMENT? (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Oct, 3. It is highly doubtful if the English farmers’ delegate, Mr Baxter, has succeeded in proving to members of the House, whom he addressed to-day, that a quota restriction on cheese imported into England will he the real solution of the Home farmers’ difficulties. He received a very friendly hearing from a large number of members, who closely questioned him regarding the possible results of making English dairying a well sheltered industry. He admitted that if prices rose as a result of restrictions there would be a natural tendency to increase daily production in England. That there is an active feeling of opposition to the capable and tie efforts of the English farmers’ representative was made clear in a question tabled a few hours later by Mr H. M. Rusliworth, who inquired of the the Government whether Mr Baxter had spoken to and conferred with the dairy farmers as the official mouthpiece of the British Government and, if so, whether it was not quite unprecedented for such official communications to be made direct to one section of the community instead of through the usual Governmental channels. The member for Bay of Islands also asked whether it was not a fact tljat the matters under discussion seriously affected the interests of mortgagees, bondholders, agents, entrepreneurs, importers and carriers and nearly all other sections, either directly or indirectly, adding: “As further land settlement and development, payment of oversea obligations and cognate matters of national policy of extreme importance and delicacy are involved in the question of quotas on either butter or cheese, will the Prime Minister assure the House that the Government will not attempt to shelter behind the hard-driven farmers or their representatives, blit will inform the British Government that the New Zealand Government can neither advise the application of quotas as suggested by Mr Baxter nor can it accept any responsibility for the consequences to New Zealand’s creditors in Britain if such quotas are applied?” Questions directed to Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates to-day elicited the statement that both Mr Baxter’s representations and those of the Dairy Produce Board will come before Cabinet.