OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1932, Page 7

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Mr Thomas’s Statement (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 28 Speaking at a luncheon to the United Kingdom delegation to the Ot tawa Conference, Mr J. 11. Thomas said they were going to Ottawa not to see what they could get, but rather what they could contribute to the com mon good of the Empire. The British delegation had no vut-and-driej plan. They want to go with an open mind, with the knowledge of the difficulties and facts of the situation, but not tied in advance or prejudiced against, any proposals whatever they might be. The world was anxious for a lead and it would surely give a lead to others, if they could show the Empire, containing a quarter of the whole world, with diverse interests, had reached a common aim.

Lord Hailsham said the problems at Ottawa would not be easy, but goodwill and the spirit of give and take would help to accomplish much. BRITAIN’S FOOD IMPORTS. LONDON, June 28. In the House of Commons under the ten minute rule, Mr Ruggles-Brise introduced a Bill providing that all imported foodstuffs should be marked whether Empire or foreign, with the name of the country. He said that Britain for a long time had taken food on trust. It was time we knew what we were buying and whence it came. The Bill was read a first time. N.Z. PRODUCE. WELLINGTON. July 29. At th'C Sheepowners l Association Conference the President. Mr Acland. speaking in regard to Ottawa,.said that an endeavour was afoot to obtain either preferential duties, or a quota for New Zealand produce. The principal of quota in any form was. he believed, dangerous, as if involved restrictions (tn trade, and asked Great Britain to adopt the principle limiting the amount . of overseas goods she would admit. Once that was applied to foreign produce, it was only a step to apply it to Dominion meat and butter. He could not see how Great Britain could, or would, apply the quota to the Argentine. He drew a distinction between the political and economic Empire, and said that no doubt lhe economic Empire governed the whole.