DELEGATION TO OTTAWA.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20563, 3 June 1932, Page 10

DELEGATION TO OTTAWA.

SENDING OF THREE MINISTERS. heavy expense. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROTESTS. "It is a gross reflection on our Parliament that it cannot find one man to do tho whole work at Ottawa," said the president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr A. 0. Wilkinson), bringing to the notice of the Council last night the fact that tho Government was sending its three principal Ministers, at a cost of some £20,000, to the Ottawa Conference. Members generally agreed with this view, and tho following motion of protest was carried unanimously:—

That this Chamber directly and through the Associated Chambers of Commerce urges upon the Government, in view of the existing conditions, the necessity for some of the leaders of the Government being present in the Dominion in the coming winter and in view of the large expense asks that Cabinet should review the question of sending three Ministers at the public expense. President's Attack. "In view of the protests against unnecessary expenditure by the Government which have been made from every part of this country, it comes as a great surprise to us that Parliament sees the necessity to send the three principal Ministers, including the Prime Minister, to Ottawa," said Mr Wilkinson. "The expenditure, I feel, cannot be less than £20,000 and I think it is a gross reflection on our Parliament that it cannot find one man to do the whole work. That these Ministers should be absent particularly the Minister for Employment—during the difficult winter months is a matter which I think calls for some comment. I do not intend to say anything more myself, but I think that members of the Council may have something to add." * "I hope you are a long way out when you talk about £20,000," said Mr T. N Gibbs. There was talk, he continued, of the heads of the Treasury and Customs Departments going as well as the three Ministers. He would not say that these men were by any means indispensable, but their going would throw the work of the Government out or gear. He urged that a strong protest should be made.

Questions of Policy. Mr* C. P. Agar said that the question wa? not altogether one of expense. In the absence of the three leading Ministers, urgent questions of policy might be held over indefinitely. For instance, the business community and the primary producers might find it necessary to discuss exchange rates anil be met with the reply that the Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance wera absent from the country. He thought that it was a grave reflection on democracy that three Ministers had to go; two would have done quite well, and oile should be able to do the 'work. At the same time, among all tho sections which would be represented at the Conference he was sorry to see no (representative of tho commercial and importing community. If any man could advise the Government impartmlly at such a time it should be the representative of the Associated Chambers of Commerce i>f New Zealand. The president said that this matter w&s coming up in committee. Mr Agar added that he did not think that £20,000 waß an exaggeration of tho expense. When he reflected what could be done with that money to relieve the prevailing distress, he regretted indeed that three men had to do a one-man job. Mr Agar then moved the motion gives above. "Chamber Should Speak Out." While ho hesitated to eriticise the Government at such a time, Mr V. B. Hamilton said that when -such trips frere contemplated, and in the same breath Government was cutting down the teaching profession by SIO,OOO, he thought that the Chamber should speak out with no uncertain voice. He seoonded the motion, which was unanimously adopted.

RUSSIAN PRODUCE. IMPORTS INTO BRITAIN. After a brief discussion, in committee the following resolution, moved by the chairman of the Buseian Trade Committee (Mr A. F. Wright) was carried unanimously:— "That the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce urges the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand to approve the following resolution 'That the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand considers that the efforts of the U.S.S.B. to extend its market for primary produce, particularly dairy products, jn Great Britain may constitute a serious menace to the prosperity of industries in the British Dominions, and recommends to the New Zealand delegation to the Economic Conference which is to be held at Ottawa that in the tions of that Conference New Zealand should ask for the recognition of this potential danger by Great Britain and for such steps to be taken as will adequately guard against Russian products displacing Empire primary products in the markets of the Homeland.'"