OTTAWA AGREEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1932, Page 9

OTTAWA AGREEMENTS.

REVIEW BY MR. COATES.

NO DETAILS DIVULGED.

A PERSISTENT INTERJECTOR.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Wellington's large Town Hall was Hot more than half filled for the civic reception accorded the Hon. J. G. Coates and other Ottawa delegates last night. There were about 800 people in the audience, and these could almost have been accommodated in the concert chamber.

Mr. Coates spoke for an hour and a half, surveying the results of the conference, and he was accorded an attentive hearing until towards the end, when there were some interruptions. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, presided.

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W, Forbes, recalled the changing opinion in Britain regarding tariffs. "I believe," he said, "that the time is not far distant when we will be able to translate into definite terms the dream that Mr. Joseph Chamberlain had in years gone by." He was sure that the results the Ottawa delegates had achieved, no matter how hard they had worked, would enable them to look back on their endeavours with the satisfaction of knowing that something had been done and something really accomplished.

Loud applause greeted Mr. Coates, who first recalled the special circuijistances which had made the conference a distinctive one among Imperial Conferences. The Ottawa Conference met during the depth of a world-wide depression. "The further you travel and the more you hear reports of conditions in other countries," he added, "the more you are impressed by the range and the severity of this depression."

Mr. Coates then reviewed the proceedings and results of the conference. Referring to meat, he said the full nature of the arrangements in regard to meat would in all probability be released between October 13 and October 18. Much as he would like to satisfy their curiosity* at present he was unable to do so. He regretted that he could not disclose the, nature of the concessions granted by New Zealand in return for preferences in the British market.

"You Are Not an Expert."

Mr. Coates was referring to the presence of experts at the conference, when a voice called out; "You may have been at Ottawa, but you are not an expert, Gordon."

Mr. Coates: I am not claiming to be one, but I am not prepared to accept your judgment in the matter. (Applause.)

"You will need all these votes at election time," jeered the interjector, who was promptly told by other members of the audiencc to "Shut up or get out."

Mr. Coates observed that although representatives from all parts of the Empire were present at the conference the proceedings had been conducted in harmony, and the first discordant note was that from the interjector to-night. (Laughter.)

Later on, when Mr. Coates was referring to the settlement of men on the land, the same interjector called out: "We want more than ten bob." Mr. Coates: I would like tp see them get £1, but we still have some onjy worth ten shillings. (Applause.) The Interjector: You would be dear.at half the price. '•We Can Look Forward." "It would appear that there is confidence growing in our Empire," said Mr. Coates," in conclusion. "There is a confidence there to-day that was not there some little time ago. Prices are rising. Butter lias moved up and wool has moved up a little. There is hope. We can look forward. We can encourage our farmers to go ahead, and it means a tremendous lot to. this country, and, although prices have a long way to go, the conference and its achievements show that Imperial sentiment can be brought down to detailed business arrangements to the mutual advantage of our countries. It can assist and enrich these arrangements.. It will do so and we shall survive."

MR. COATES BUSILY ENGAGED. RELIEVED OF OTHER DUTIES. (By Telegraph.—-Special to " Star.' - ) WELLINGTON, this day. Tlie Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates is btisily engaged preparing details of the Ottawa Conference agreements for presentation to Parliament, having been relieved temporarily of the responsibilities connected with the portfolios of Employment, Public Works and Transport.

It has not been definitely decided which Minister will take charge of the Customs Amendment Bill, hut it is generally anticipated that Mr. Coates will be asked to accept this responsibility.