TRADE AGREEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 22329, 4 May 1936, Page 13

TRADE AGREEMENTS

MR SAVAGE ON NEGOTIATIONS HEED FOR RESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATIVE [l’ra United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 2. New Zealand’s representation at the coming negotiations in London relating to freight contracts and trade agreements was the subject of a statement made to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr Savage), who discussed the necessity for a responsible Minister remaining in London for an appreciable period rather than making a visit to carry out negotiations as quickly as possible. - Regarding freight contracts for the carriage of New Zealand’s refrigerated produce, including butter and cheese, meat, and fruit, involving over £J,000,01)0 a year, Air Savage stated that New Zealand’s ease would bo dealt with at a conference with the overseas ship owners this month by Sir James Parr (tlie High Commissioner), Dr R. M. Campbell (economic adviser), Mr H. E. Davis (London manager of the Dairy Board), Mr James Bcgg (a member of the Meat Board, who is now on his way to London), am! Mr R. S. Forsyth (London manager of the Meat Producers’ Board). Reminded of the coming termination of the trade agreement between Britain and Denmark and the subsequent negotiations this year following the termination of the agreement between Britain and Argentina, the Prime Minister remarked that New Zealand was, of course, vitally interested in these matters, though he could not see where much could be done until representatives of all parts of tlie Empire met together in London, and the probability was that the Imperial Conference would handle these questions. A date had been mentioned as being prior to tlie coronation, but nothing had been definitely decided. “My own feeling on these important matters,” continued the Prime Minister, “is that just a flying shot at them by a Minister going Home to Britain for a few weeks is not enough. That will probably happen again—and I am not criticising what has been done in the past—but I hope it will lead to something more adequate in the way of some Minister being able to remain in Britain for a period just as long as the problem remains. The problem is growing all the time, and the British Commonwealth either has to hang together or hang separately, so that it seems to me we must give our representatives reasonable time to get down to realities on the spot. We must have someone on the spot with authority to say, ‘That is the position and that is what we will do.’ “ I do not wish to see a representative without power,” Mr . Savage added, “ and when an indication was given that one British Minister would visit tlie Dominion 1 made the suggestion that he should come with authority, so I am hoping after tlie coining Imperial Conference that we will be able to agree to keep our representatives in Britain as long as the problem remains. If we can proceed on those lines we will be capable of doing. big things.”