EMPIRE FIRST

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 69, 19 September 1932, Page 8

EMPIRE FIRST

DELEGATES TO OTTAWA

SPIRIT OF HARMONY

OFFICIAL LUNCHEON

Impressions of the Ottawa Conference, particularly in regard to the spirit of harmony which prevailed among tlio delegates, were given at the Wellington Chamber" of Commerce luncheon tendered to-day to the leader of the New Zealand delegation (the Eight Hon. J. G. Coates) and the Hon. H. S. Gullett, Commonwealth Minister of Trade and Customs.

Mr. J. Pearce Luke, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, presided. Among those present were the Prime Minister, the Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes, the Hon. B. Masters (Minister of Industries and Commerce), the Hon. W. C. Angliss, M.L.C. (Australia) Messrs. 11. W. Dalton, C.M.G., H.M. Trade Commissioner, Sydney; E. Abbott, Deputy-Comptroller Trade and Customs, Australia; T. G. A. Muntz, Assistant H.M. Trade Commissioner, New Zealand, and E. W. Knox, former president of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Gullett, said that the relations between the delegations from Australia and : New Zealand had been 'most cordial, and he wished to thank Mr. Coates and Mr. Downie Stewart for the help they had given the Commonwealth representatives. "I think we have obtained as much from Ottawa as we expected to obtain," said Mr. Gullett. " Some sections of the community may be disappointed, but I think that from the Australian standpoint, and from the standpoint of the Empire as well, the Conference has been one of the most signally success-, ful the world has ever seen:" The Conference had been of distinct advantage to the primary producers of both Australia and New Zealand. One could not ■ expect ■ price levels to be miraculously raised to the clouds overnight, but there was no doubt that the benefits to every industrial activity would be considerable. He did not believe that a single;interest in Australia had suffered from the work of the Conference. The increased prosperity to the farmers and pastoralists would be reflected in the secondary industries, which would automatically progress. He was glad to stand up among representatives, of a sister Dominion and say that Australia was now well out of the wood after a fairly severe contest with the depression. They had accommodated themselves to the present level, and this was not so much a tribute, to the Governments—although it must be said that they hail donepretty well —but a tribute to the people themselves. It was' a tribute to democracy. Election after election the people had voted themselves down, and they were now living within their income. When price levels came back again Australia and New Zealand would be amongst the first to recover.. ' , ( FRIENDLY FEELINGS SHOWN. In reviewing the 'work of the Conference, Mr. Coates said he thought that it was the first time in which/the Empire selected representatives from various business and industrial activities to take a real, earnest, and liv.c part in all the considerations that were brought up at Ottawa. These gentlemen, apart from the political side, played on important part, and their advice * was sought. As far as New Zealand was concerned,, they rendered significant service to those who were the official representatives.' The relations between Australia and New Zealand at the Conference were all that could be desired. , : ,

Dealing, with the results of the Conference, Mr. Coates said that whatever political arrangements may be made, in. the last resource they had to depend on the business men of the Empire- to carry into effect and make a success of the result of the understandings and agreements* decided on at Ottawa. The.. atmosphere of the Conference was serious-minded, hei said, and all were determined, to make a success of Ottawa. A great deal of patience and co-operation was necessary, and there was a good-natured and friendly feeling. Mr. Coates referred to the presence at the Conference-; of representatives of, every part of; the British Empire, and said that at no time did ill-feeling obtrude in the deliberations. "There was no hostility amongst members,' 5 he said. "All the talk of 'wars,' 'meat-wars,' and 'armistice Sunday' when the British Ministers were allowed a respite from the savage Australians and. New Zealanders—all this talk was the sheerest nonsense. There was frank discussion of the difficulties facing our countries;, it was necessarily frank if it was to be practical and effective. Bui the- most cordial good feeling right through the Conference. Characteristic of this, and contrary to the conclusion that some people may have jumped to, was the position, of the delegates from the Irish Free State. They were separated from the delegates from London by a dispute on which I shall say nothing; but outside of that dispute, and in. the personal relations between the ' Irish,men an'id the representatives, of the United' Kingdom, everything was most cordial. There was an atmosphere in Ottawa that was helpful in settling that'dispute and others." *■ "CONFERENCE OF NATIONS." Mr. Coates said that all the problems of the world'were at Ottawa, and the Conference had to tackle these problems in the face of a wide diversity of opinions. It was a conference of nations and all the difficulties of an international .conference had to.be faced. They were by no means treading some well-trodden path. The Conference was; held during the greatest depression the world had ever known. The representatives of Great Britain" were worthy of the highest tribute for the way in which they met and discussed with the Dominions the problems of' the Empire. The fact that New Zealand and Australia had similar commodities for sale raised a problem, but these difficulties were met by the spirit of the Conference. The dominating factor had been the Empire as a whole and not the sectional interests. All the delegates had placed first the ecanomie welfare of the.whole Empire They were naturally unwilling to sacrifice any of the interests they represented, and one could easily see/ that difficulties could arise, but the results had beei a' complete. success. It was a tribute to the, delegates that they had definitely established an economic policy for. the Empire. Mr. Coates said that he wished to thank the members of the Cabinet who had remained in New Zealand and.who had carried a terrific load short-handed..

I would not say we are through the wood yet, said Mr. Coates. The future calls for the best in everybody, if we are ultimately to come through—and we will come through —with satisfaction and credit. It is in us, and I think we will do it.

Although the Ottawa Conference had been a success there would not tie' a complete return .to prosperity until there was a return to normal world trade and world confidence. ■ They had begun the work of. restoration at Ottawa and it would be carried on at tho forthcoming world conference which would complete the work commenced by the British Empire. ; Mr. Dalton said he regarded Ottawa as a beginning. If prosperity came, it

would come with a 'flood because they all understood each other as they had never . understood ■ each other before. Mr. Dalton paid a tribute to Mr. Coates's leadership of the New Zealand delegation, and said that nobody at Ottawa dido his job better than, did Mr. Coates. "In my opinion it would have been a fatality had Mr. Coates not been at Ottawa to lead the delegation," he said.

The achievements obtained could not remain achievements unless everybody did their part; unless the seed were sown and a crop obtained.

Mr. Dalton decried the statement that there had'been a "war." The success had come when they all realised what they could do and gain without gaining at anybody's expense; what they could give without making anybody suffer too much, and what they could all "put into the pot." It was not a bargain, but an evolution on the last day.

; Mr. Dalton said that it was a great day in the history of Empire—a day when they had achieved something. The Conference had been a terrible test. It had been a grave danger, but it had also been a wonderful achievement. The Empire had been put to the test of pounds, shillings, and pence at a time when all .were suffering. The success of Ottawa had been greater than many had dared to believe. The Conference had not, been a joy-ride for anybody— they had to get that .out .of their minds immediately. He had been tremendously impressed with the collection of individuals who had gathered at Ottawa. ■.■-■•■■ :

Mr. Knox said he would like to acknowledge the feeling of pride the Australian delegation had in working under Messrs.! Bruce and Gullett. He also paid a tribute to Mr. ■ Coates >s leadership. On behalf of the Australian Chambers of Commerce, he extended fraternal greetings to the New Zealand Chambers, and said that they woull do every thing "in their power to make a success of the Empire Conference of Chambers of Commerce, to- be held in Wellington next year.