EMPIRE TARIFFS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 18 March 1932, Page 10

EMPIRE TARIFFS.

THE OTTAWA CONFERENCE. ACTION BY DAIRY BOARD. (PEESS ASSOCIATION TELEOBAM.) WELLINGTON, March 17. At the meeting of the Dairy Board, tho chairman, Mr W. A. lorns, intimated that he had informed the Prime Minister that the Board was prepared to send at its own expense a representative of the dairy industry to the Ottawa Conference in order to be available to the official delegation, and render assistance to them in matters bearing upon the interests of the dairy industry. The Prime Minister had agreed that this was a good idea, but had stated that so far the official delegation had not been fixed, but when it was appointed a further communication would pass. Following on this communication, the Board considered the question of who should be appointed. By unanimous consent it was decided to ask Mr William Goodfellow, managing director of Amalgamated Dairies, Ltd., and the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., to hold himself in readiness to attend tho Ottawa Conference, to bo associated, with tho consent of the Government, with the official delegation on behalf of the dairy industry. Mr lorns intimated that he himself could not contemplate going to Ottawa owing to private business, and said that he felt the interests of the industry were so important at this epochmaking event that the very best brains Of the industry should be available. After other members had spoken in similar vein, the resolution appointing Mr Goodfellow was carried unanimously. It was further agreed that contact be made with the Australian Dairy Board prior to the Ottawa Conference, with a view to united action in their mutual interests. CIRCULAR TO MANUFACTURERS. QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. (PBBS9 ASSOCIATION TBXJSQBAM.) WELLINGTON, March 17. In the House of Representatives today, Mr \V. J. Poison (C., Stratford) asked the Minister for Customs whether lie would inform tho House why manufacturers' organisations had been circularised by tho Government in regard to the Ottawa Conference, whereas organisations representing the primary industries had been entirely ignored. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart replied that the statement gazetted last week had shown clearly the reasons why it was necessary to make early enquiries from manufacturers as their problem was a difficult one. The Government fully realised the outstanding importance of the problem of the primary producers, which was receiving the most careful attention. A sub-committee of the Cabinet would be appointed to meet representatives of the Meat Board, Dairy Boards, and other producers' organisations in consultation. It woujd also meet representatives of the manufacturers. • .

Pointing out that at the present time information regarding the position of individual manufacturers was confidential to the Statistics Department and that in any case the returns would not be in until June, Mr Downie Stewart said the necessity had thus arisen for a special collection of the facts. This necessity did not arise in connexion with primary producers because of their organisations.