The Dominion MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1932. NEW ZEALAND AT OTTAWA

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 232, 27 June 1932, Page 8

The Dominion MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1932. NEW ZEALAND AT OTTAWA

The Prime Minister’s statement of New Zealand’s, policy to be pursued at the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa is interesting, though not very explicit and somewhat belated. Presented just ns the New Zealand delegation is leaving for Canada it can only'be considered as a document submitted for the public s perusal rathe, than for its consideration and opinion. Criticism on this point m y be answered no doubt by the assertion that the policy outlined goes no further than to lay down broad guiding principles. Earlier publication had that been possible, would, however, have given opportunity tor j s armed with something more than a watching brief. As to the nature and scope of its powers of initiative the public has been given no information other than what may be implied in the very general terms of the Prime Minister s statement. It is probably true that the delegates cannot finally commit the country as regards future economic policy. Whatever may be done must be ratified by Parliament later. It is to be hoped, however, that out of consideration for the country’s dignity and prestige the delegation has been given sufficient powers to enable it to take an effective part in negotiations.. The ablest Ministers cannot get result with tied hands. . Mr. Forbes prefaces his statement with an emphatic assurance that the New Zealand Government would approach the Conference with the object of seeking mutual co-operation, and not of merely bargaining for undue advantages. That sentiment has been predominant in the public mind ever since the Conference became an imminent event. It is no more than appropriate to an occasion ot this kind that the British Government’s assurance that its representatives would go to Ottawa “in no huckstering, spirit, should be reciprocated by the other members of the Imperial family in similar terms. The whole aim of the Conference is that each unit should gain strength from the others, and that the strength of the whole should be increased accordingly. . r» • Certain aspects of the coming. Conference discussed by the. Prime Minister are already familiar to the public. Since the Mother Country has abandoned free trade all the nations of the British Commonwealth can think along the same fiscal lines. They may do so with varying degrees of intensity, and it is here that adjustments must be sought if they are successfully to make common cause against the depression. The Dominions were specially exempted from the new British duties on imported products. This exemption, it should not be forgotten, is subject to revision in the light of the Ottawa decisions—more precisely, of the concessions the Dominions are prepared to make in return. Our own Government appears to have grasped this with conviction and sincerity. Mr. Forbes points out that New Zealand has already gone a very long way by granting tariff preferences to the United Kingdom and other, parts of the Empire. But, he adds, “the Government is satisfied that there still remains a relatively large .field for economic co-operation, and it thinks that the concessions it is able to offer will be sufficient to place New Zealand in a most. favourable situation in discussing the matter with the Imperial authorities. Whether the Conference will be able to make much progress with such questions as currency and price levels is'matter for speculation although many believe more may be accomplished in these directions than by tariffs. It should be remembered, however, that no one nation, or particular group of nations, can satisfactorily answer them without regard to others. On this point Mr. Forbes shows due appreciation of the difficulties involved. The Lausanne decisions may have an influential bearing on the proceedings at Ottawa. .Both financially and economically the two conferences are co-ordinating factors in the straightening out of the general muddlement of the world’s affairs. Hence the Empire delegations at Ottawa must not take too narrow a view of the questions opened up by the discussions on currency, price levels, and tariffs'.