NEW ZEALAND'S POLiCY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 16 June 1932, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND'S POLiCY

BUSINESS MAN'S VIEW

__ Speaking at a farewell luncheon today, tendered: to the British/; Trade Commissioner/Mr. L.. A. Paish, by the United Kingdom Manufacturers? and Zealand EepresentativesJ,.;^Association, Mr. L. Ashcrof towards, who presided, referred to the Ottawa Conference and th&.poliey' to be adopted by New; Zealand.. ' < Upon , the: shoulders of our Government rests a" miehtr responsibiUty," said Mr. Edwards "If our Government, per medium of our Customs tariff, offers an acceptable'proposition to the United Kingdom, -thea I firmly-believe, that New Zealand will march side by side in partnership -with the Old Land towards prosperity.- But if, through lack of statesmanlike vision or of courage on our part,.our proposition as turned town by the United Ebbdom, then New Zealand will become aa outsider—m effect'a foreigner, saddled, iv common with foreign cotmtriesi-with a 10 per cent, impost into the: United Kingdom. on our butter; cheese, etc. Taken m conjunction with our;other troubles, this load- of,■ approximately £ 1,700,000 per annum -irould. prove'to be the;last rstraw, to:break the camel's [back.- ... ■-.":-.. :.-v.".-:'iv.;H .-...■::■ ..

"We can only fervently hope that our delegates are fully alive to the heavy responsibilities they "carry, and the dire results which may tend upou the failure of their mission. ' •

In my contact with leading business nien.: I ,am conscious' of; a deep disquietude regarding the/political ■ administration of New 'Zealand. -Various opinions aie expressed," but one and all give voice, to their -conviction that bur Government is applying palliatives only to our desperate condition, and not pursuing a programme of constructive national rehabilitation. • If this-'be • the' case,-then there is only one sane course to pursue, and that is for :the-business men in our midst to! form .themselves into committee, o.£ grays land: Jmeans to analyse pur difficulties," and bring forward concrete proposals for national re^ construction. These proposals would bo submitted to.": the Government' iir the first place, and subsequent action would depend upon circumstances.". '