AN EARLY RIFT

Grey River Argus, 28 April 1932, Page 5

AN EARLY RIFT

IN THE OTTAWA LUTE What Has Britain Said ? (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn). (Received April 27 at 8.40 p.m.) OTTAWA, April 26. The Liberal Party Leader. Mr MaeKenzic King, taking part in the Budget debate i n the Canadian House of Commons, said that information had come to him that the representatives of the Canadian Manufacturers’ Association and ih-> delegates of certain British industries had been “dividing up the trade between this country and Great Britain” in anticipation of the Economic Conference. In criticising rhe Government for refusing to divulge its Conference policies or to name the committees who were to be looking after the arrangements, Mr MacKenzie King asked how could they expect the Opposition to co-operate 'f this information were refused. and if even the views of the Ministry were denied them.

“There must be no more ‘humbug’ at this Conference,” declared Mr MacKjenzie King, referring to rhe aftermath of the 1930 Conference, in which the Rt. Hon. J. 11. Thomas figured. Yet, Mr MacKenzie King proceeded, the Canadian Government On the eve of this gathering raised its tariff against Great Britain by increasing the excise tax On all imports. This action contrasted with Great Britain’s gesture in exempting Canada and all other Dominions, from the tariff recently established. On the one hand, said Mr MacKenzie King, there is bargaining, and on the other hand there are voluntary concessions.

Mr MacKenzie King then expressed the opinion that th e Canadian Government had “heard from Great Britain ‘hat negotiations for a new Empire commercial basis could not be entertained while Canada continued to manipulate its tariff overnight by Order-in-Council. ’ ’

Canada’s Refusal TO BE A DUMPING GROUND. PREMIER’S DEFENCE OF POLICY. (Aus. Sc N.Z. Cable Assn). (Received April 27 at 7.10 p.m.) OTTAWA, February 26. Defending his actions when in London at lhe Imperial Conference in 1930, and declaring that the late Sir Wilfred Laurier, Canadian Premier in 1902 set a precedent for bargaining at the Imperial Conferences, the Prime Minister. Mr Bennett, told the House of Commons to-night in the Budget debate that he had followed in the footsteps of Sir Wilfred Laurier, who, twenty-eight years before, had imposed trade conditions on Great Britain at a, similar gathering of Empire representatives.

Mr Bennett defended the high tariff policy of his Governmnet as being necessary, under the present conditions, to safeguard the life blood of his country. Canada, in the light’ of the world-wide industrial depression, could not afford to set an example for all Christendom and let down its tariff barriers and thu s become a dumping ground for the world.

The Premier said that he had gone to the London Conference of 1930 be--I'eving that his proposals would be received exactly as they were. As to the merits of those proposals, the people of Great Britain settled that, and as soon as they had settled the matter, he had invited the Economic Conference to Ottawa. It would meet on July 21st. Therefore the purpose that he had in mind, the one ambition that he hoped to realise, was about to be realised. OTTAWA POSSIBILITIESOTTAWA, April 27. “Don’t place Empire relations on a dollar and cents basis,“ the Govt, were advised in the Canadian House of Commons to-day, by the Liberal I eader Mr MacKenzie King. Ho said the Imperial Economic Conterence would end in disruption and failure if any spirit of bargaining of the national selfishness permeated the discussions.

A Rosy Picture BY LONDON PAPER BIG TRADE GAINS HOPED FOE LONDON, April 27. '‘Commercial exports of the Domic ions ami Colonies are now formulating definite proposals for the Ottawa Conference,” says the “Daily Telegraph.” “There is a conviction that the Con ference will result in a big increase in the volume of trade within the Empire. British manufacturers hope to secure some of the Empire business that is now In the hands of the Unit ed States, Germany and other foreign countries. Measures to encourage Dominion imports of British iron, a tec ! and textile manufactures will probably figure largely in the Imperial Conference’s programme. Australia and New Zealand business men agree that the Conference will find many directions in which reciprocal agreements would greatly enlarge the volume of trad© from on(T side To !’•' other.”