§ 43. Sir PERCY HARRISasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether there has been any recent correspondence or communication between the Government and that of the Dominion of New Zealand about a reduction or limitation of the quota of meat shipped by them to this country; and whether they have agreed to any limitation of supplies to this country or any levy on the amount shipped from there or imported into this country?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)Yes, Sir. I have been in correspondence with His Majesty's Government in New Zealand on the subject of the limitation of the exports of meat from New Zealand for arrival in the United Kingdom between 1st January and 31st March, 1935. A programme has been agreed which involves a reduction in the total imports of meat from New Zealand during that period as compared with imports during the corresponding quarter of last year. The position with regard to a levy was explained in my reply to a question on 5th December by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander).
§ Sir P. HARRISAm I to understand that this reduction is acceptable to the Dominion and that they have agreed to it without demur, or is it the result of threats?
Mr. THOMASThere have been no threats. The New Zealand Government have accepted the provisions because they are as anxious as we are not to break a number of agreements which would be as ruinous to them as to our own, agricultural industry.
§ Sir P. HARRISHas not one of the Jesuits of Government policy been to 544 make it more difficult, since the National Government have been in office, for the Dominion to send produce here which could previously come in free without limitation?
Mr. THOMASThe answer to that question is that New Zealand for the first quarter of 1935 will be sending in under this agreement an increase of approximately 11 per cent.