OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 April 1932, Page 7

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND’S DELEGATES PRIMARY PRODUCERS’ PICK [PEE press association.] WELLINGTON, April 8. A deputation comprising organisations representing every section of the primary producing industries ot tne Dominion, viz., the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation, the Meat Board, the Dairy Board, the Fruit Board, the Honey Board, the Pig Producers, and all of the Federated Dairy Factory Associations, throughout theDominion, waited upon the Prime Minister (Mr. Forbes), Messrs. Coates, Downie Stewart, and R. Masters, this afternoon, to urge the necessity for the early appointment of a Dominions Delegation for the Ottawa Conference, and that that delegation should include the Prime Minister and Mr. Coates as Leaders of the Government; and also that it should include Sir James Parr, the Leader of the Legislative Council for’the sake of his expert advice and experience. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Polson, M.P., President of the Partners’ Union. Mr. D. Jones, Chairman of the Meat Board, presented a considered statement setting out the views of the deputation, arrived at in the course of full discussions in meetings held over the last two days in Wellington. After full consideration, the primary producers, in their conferences, had unanimously decided to request that the Prime Minister and Mr. Coates should lead the delegation. They were convinced that the leaders of both Parties should head the delegation. Such an action would carry weight, and the importance of the occasion called for it. 1 The producers considered the Government should avail itself of the best possible expert to accompany these leaders, and in their opinion the expert was Sir J. Parr. The appointment of an official delegation should be made at the earliest possible date. This was strongly urged in order, that the producers’ organisations should be able to place views before them. It was also desired to get into touch with the producing interests in Australia. The Prime Minister, in thanking the deputation for its views, said it was recognised that the principal question facing the Ottawa Conference was that of preference. The Cabinet had been in touch with the British Government and the British Trade Commissioner, and also with Australia, collecting information and. data. The discussion would centre round the extension and continuance of preference banking, and currency would also be discussed. This would affect the representation. Ho hoped to be able to announce the representation shortly. AUSTRALIAN DAIRY REP.

SYDNEY, April 9

The Australian Dairy Produce Ex-port-Board is sending Mr H. W. Osborne, a member of that Board to the Ottawa Conference, in a consultative capacity. He is authorised to confer with representatives of New Zealand and other Dominions in regard to the preparation of a common policy on dairying problems, for the Ottawa Conference.

HOMELAND LIBERALS’ DEMAND

[OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, April 8.

Lord Grey of Tulloden, in a speech after his re-election as President of the Liberal Council, urged the necessity for still greater public economy. He expressed the view that Liberals should continue to support the National Government, and resist anything favouring a return to the reckless expenditure. He emphasised that the Liberal Ministers and Lord Snowden, as well as the Liberal supporters of the Government must maintain a free hand to support free trade. The agreements by the Danubian States had been brought to an abyss by the erection of high tariffs against each other. He hoped that the Government would work for lowering the tariff barriers, and that at Ottawa, nothing would be done to prevent them carrying out a policy aimed at lowering the tariff barriers in Europe.