AUCKLAND VIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1932, Page 9

AUCKLAND VIEWS.

NATIONAL DELEGATION

« ACID TEST OF EMPIRE."

MANUFACTURERS SATISFIED.

Some interesting views on New Zealand's representation at Ottawa, and the purpose of the forthcoming conference, were expressed in Auckland to-day.

"In my opinion the Dominion representation to the forthcoming Empire Economic Conference should be a national one and not altogether political," said Mr." Ernest Davis. "I say that with all due respect to those who are going. This conference will be the acid test on the question of the future life of the British' Empire. I consider that His Majesty's Dominion Opposition should be represented, soas to make the political portion of the delegation national in every respect. Britain is approaching it from that standpoint. It would be a wonderful gesture to the Labour party within the Empire, and would facilitate the progress of the necessary legislation and hearty co-operation of all and bring the eventual result of the conference into being. Every question at issue is a tremendous problem, owing to the enormous conflicting interests involved, and requires the most skilled advisory committee to the political representation. Currency Questions. "Apart from that, whilst endorsing the names of those very worthy gentlemen who are going as advisers, representing the producing interests of the Dominion, there is a blank left in regard to the financial interests, and in view of the fact that Empire currency must be one of the subjects dealt with the chairman of the Associated Banks should bo, without question, one of the advisers. The present chairman, Mr. W. T. Grose, has shown conclusively, by the part he took in connection with the exchange question, and the responsibility he shouldered against the advice of the professional economists, that he would be of invaluable assistance to the political party in this particular direction. This conference is the one silver lining in the clouds of depression which encompass us. It vitally affects every man, woman and child in this community.

"One American critic of high standing (Ludlow Denny), writing on the subject ,says: 'It will be a miracle if this economic union can be effected.' This serves to indicate how the nations of the old and the new world view it, taking as their criterion that British aloofness in the past, which now, through sheer force of economic transition, is changing England from freo trade to protection. The same critic lays it down, and is lie not right when referring to Britain's prosperity, 'It is so direct that the value of New Zealand exports rise and fall almost in exact ratio to British unemployment and production conditions from year to year.' If that is not sufficient argument Avhy we New Zealanders, from a trade and national point of view, must see this conference through to a successful issue, then what is?" Mr. S. Takle, president of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, said that manufacturers were very pleased to find that the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes and the Hon. W. Downie Stewart wero attending the conference, for the reason that both, by tho policy they had followed since the formation of the Coalition, had shown that they fully recognised there were secondary industries as well as primary, and that their part in New Zealand's destiny was an important one. "We have every confidence in the capacity of Messrs. Forbes and Stewart," Mr. Takle added, "to sec that in tho deliberations at Ottawa the interests of tho manufacturing industries in New Zealand are not overlooked. "It is the hope of manufacturers that tho place of the secondary industries in tho life of the Dominion will be definitely established as a result of the conference. In the past there has been too much talk about uneconomic secondary industries, and these generalities have had tho effect of creating an inferiority complex in the mind of the average New Zealander with regard to the possibilities of the manufacturing products of tho country. Tho Ottawa conference will no doubt have the effect of sorting out the relative importance of all the industries, and there is no question in my mind but that the secondary industries will be placed in the important position to which they belong." Revenue Aspect of Tariffs.

Mr. Takle said that as far as tariffs were concerned there would be full discussions, but owing to the great demands of the Dominions for revenue at the present stage, the manufacturers in New Zealand feared little or any definite action in the way of drastic reductions of tariffs to the extent of injuring the necessary secondary industries of New Zealand. In his opinion the work of the conference would be more in the line of Imperial rationalisation of industry, and would probably lead to Empire trade conferences for the purpose of bettering Empira trade in manufacturing goods.