TWO LEADERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 98, 28 April 1933, Page 8

TWO LEADERS.

BOTH FOR LONDON. WORLD CONFERENCE. EARLY DECISION EXPECTED, NO SESSION TELL OCTOBER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. The fixing of the date for the World Economic Conference in London clears the way for important decisions by the New Zealand Cabinet, which have been held up so far owing to uncertainty over the date and the programme. There were no decisions on the subject at yesterday's Cabinet meeting, but indications'. point to very important developments in the near future. Inquiries among Ministers already show that New Zealand will not be content to have the High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Wilford, as its representative. This conference ia regarded, under the existing conditions, as even more important than the Ottawa Conference and will warrant the attendance of both leaders of the Government. Thus it can be predicted that within a short time the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, and the Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, will announce their decision to leave for London to attend this momentous international gathering. Unlike some of the Geneva conferences it will be a meeting of responsible Governmental heads who can accept decisions and at the same time give adequate guarantee of their ability to secure Parliamentary approval in their own countries. Matters of Vital Importance. The matters to be discussed are, of course, of vital importance to New Zealand, and it is inevitable that, coincident with the Economic Conference, there will be discussions among Empire statesmen regarding developments following the Ottawa Conference. New Zealand's currency depreciation policy and its attitude on the butter quota issue are sure to be subjects for an exchange of opinions, if not for formal discussions, because the question of stabilisation of currency in the international sphere is one of the points which events have forced to the front. War debt payments, also, concern the Dominion vitally. These questions, alone will make it advisable that the Coalition leaders should be in London in June, ready ,to providfe New Zealand's co-operation in measures for the restoration of world confidence in trading conditions. Date of the Session. Such a programme will involve dislocation of the Government's original plans for the next Parliamentary session. . It was intended to call legislators together towards the end of August, but at this time it may be anticipated that Mr. Forbes and Mr. Coates will be loutof the country. Consequently, it seems likely that the session will be further deferred until early in October. Before Parliament adjourns provision is made for monetary supply until the end of the following June, as the House is expected to be sitting again by that time, and can then renew the provision. Under the present conditions, however, a special clause in the Finance Act No. 4 . of last session, enables finaneia.l arrangements. to be carried on until October 30, after which further supplies have to be voted by the House in an Imprest Bill. Thus the Government has legislative authority to carry on its finances in accordance with the changed 'sessional programme which- the calling of. the Economic Conference necessitates.