THE COMMONWEALTH NOT AFFECTED

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 14

THE COMMONWEALTH NOT AFFECTED

STATUS QUO MAINTAINED [From Ocb Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 22. As far as can be ascertained, th* present agreement reached by Mr Nash in London concerns Britain and New Zealand only and will got operate t« facilitate further trade with Australia. The position between New Zealand and the Commonwealth remains as it wa* when the import restrictions 1 were applied. . r These questions were discussed by Mr Savage to-day, the Prime Minister ra. marking: “ We will still be in a position to restrict imports, but the agreement we have made will brine us closer to Britain in the way of trade.” Asked if the continued necessity to conserve the overseas funds would tend to restrict imports from Britain, Mr Savage replied : “ The actual volume of imports from Britain will. certainly be increased from what it would have been had not these negotiations been carried ° n The Prime Minister also referred to the conversion loan of £17,000.000, and said that owing to the uncertainty of the market and the international situation it was obviously impossible to discuss these details so many months in advance. These conditions might change materially by December. Nothing definite concerning Mr Nash’s immediate movements had been communicated to New Zealand.