“OTTAWA” CRITICISMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1932, Page 7

“OTTAWA” CRITICISMS

DEARER FOOD EFFECTS MAY LIMIT MARKETS [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, October 14. The “Manchester Guardian” (Liberal Free Trade) editorially says: — Ottawa quotas are certain to cause a general rise in meat prices which are unlikely to be confined to the produce of the Dominions. The probable reduction of the amount of imported frozen beef may raise the price of Argentine chilled, also English fresh beef, but the extent of the rise depends on the purchasing power of the Britisn market. Unless that is raised all artificial methods of raising prices will be useless, and it may eventually be found that meat quotas are the most important and tlje most far-reaching of the agreements made at Ottawa. INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENT VANCOUVER, October 13. The Vancouver “Sun” commenting on the tariff preferences says: They will interest the world because _ they represent an international experiment that is going to have far-reaching consequences. If the experiment can teach the lesson on the folly of economic war, it will have accomplished a world purpose more important that the mere revival of trade within the Empire. Economic warfares are stupid and cost more than the Great War.

INDIAN CRITICISM.

CALCUTTA, October 14.

The Ottawa agreements are fiercely condemned by the Nationalist papers, as iniquitous, unfair and onesided, and if approved would sound the death knell of the country’s fiscal autonomy and industrial economic future development. The Calcutta “Statesman” says: It is certain there is no general reduction in prices and costs from, the agreements, and the Empire will be fortunate if there is not a general rise. ARGENTINE ALARMED. (Received October 15, 11 a.m.) BUENOS AIRES, October 14. It is understood that a powerful rural society has sent a message to the President requesting immediate clarification of Argentina’s position, in face of the Ottawa agreements, “which are most prejudicial to the Argentine,” stressing that in 1931, Argentine exports to Britain totalled 246 million gold pesos, and British exports to Argentina 106 million. . . The society expressed the opinion that immediate steps toward an AngloArgentine commercial reapproachment be taken.

S. AFRICAN SATISFACTION.

CAPE TOWN, October 14.

The annual Commercial Congress expressed satisfaction with the Ottawa agreements.

FIJI BANANAS.

SYDNEY, October 14. Fiji bananas, on which there has

hitherto been a heavy duty, may now be shipped to Sydney and Melbourne under the terms of the new trade agreement between Britain and Australia affecting the Crown colonies, the tariff having been reduced from 8/4 to 2/6 per cental. The quantity is to be limited to 40,000 centals per year, which, it is officially believed 1 , will not interfere with the locally-grown banana trade. The Queensland banana growers, however, are making a spirited protest. They declare that the new arrangement savours of a political vendetta.

N.Z. TARIFF CHARGES.

WELLINGTON, October 14

The first alteration in the customs tariff of New Zealand resulting from the Ottawa trade agreements, which were made under the resolutions passed by Parliament, came into effect today:— 1

The surtax is removed from all goods that are the produce or manufacture of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and any other part of the British Dominions except Canada, Union of South Africa, Irish Free State, Newfoundland or India. On all silk piece goods the produce or manufacture of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and any other part of the British Dominions, excepting Canada, Irish Free State, South Africa, India or Newfoundland the duty is entirely removed. There is a reduction to 27J per cent, in the duties on all ready made apparel, hosiery and confectionery produced in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and other British Dominions except Irish Free State, Canada, South Africa, India and Newfoundland. Primage duty of 1 per cent, and 2 per cent, is abolished on Australian goods imported.