Ottawa Conference

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 223, 16 June 1932, Page 9

Ottawa Conference

Sir. —The “Manchester Guardian” states: “Ottawa is primarily a business conference. Our leading export industries, faced with a steady shrinkage in world trade, are anxious to hammer out at Ottawa agreements which will be of mutual advantage to British and Dominion trade. Tlie repercussions on our foreign trade ns the result of decisions reached at Ottawa may prove to be farreaching.” At this business conference we are going to meet representatives of that great country which buys almost everything we produce and in previous years _of prosperity found us a market for £35,000,000 to £40,000,000 of our products and sold us in return from £20,000,000 to £29,000,000 of her manufactured goods. Values are now admittedly well down, but production here is increasing., Surely this immense volume of trade is worthy of the fullest representation at a conference where the United Kingdom seeks the fullest and open discussion. Vague estimates of £20,000 and £25,000 have been publicly stated as the cost of our representation, but closer figuring shows that it will barely cost this country £12.000, and possibly considerably less. The 10 per cent, preference on dairy produce alone this year, estimated at a total value of £16,000,000, would give this country £1.600,000, and 1 per cent, on that amount would be £16,000. Surely one per cent, is not too much to pay for sueh a concession. If meat were included, the expense would probably work out Jess than half per cent. The expenses of the conference are not recurring, but the concessions will probably go on for years. If, in order to secure adequate representation, the cost reached £20,000, surely it is money well •Pent." The decisions reached at the conference will in turn be submitted to the various Dominion Parliaments for confirmation, hence the necessity of sending , at least two and preferably three Cabinet Ministers, charged with the serious, responsibility of making such concessions as the situation demands and ready on their return to show this country that they have acted in its best interests. —I am " etC " J. T. MARTIN. Wellington, June 15.