MR COATES ON OTTAWA

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1932, Page 5

MR COATES ON OTTAWA

HOPES OF RECOVERY But Not Much Information (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, September 20. Advantages gained by the Dominion as a result of the arrangements made at the Ottawa Conference were comprehensively reviewed by Mr Coates at a civic reception in his honour thi.« evening. AN OMISSION. Mr Coates said he regretted he was unable to indicate the exact details of the concessions that had been agreed to by New Zealand in return for preferences in the British market. These would later be placed before Parliament. The Mayor, Mr Hislop, welcomed Mr Coates, Mrs Coates and the other official members of the delegation, on behalf of the city. Mr Forbes recalled the changing opinion in Britain regarding tariffs. “I believe,” said the Prime Minister, “the time is not far distant when we will he able to translate into definite I terms the dream that Joseph Chamber- I lain had in years gone by.” The Prime Minister spoke of the New Zealand delegation to the Conference, and of great work they had done. The Now Zealand “team” had been the smallest that attended, he said, which had meant that every man had to do his full share, but he was sure that the results the delegates had achieved, no matter how hard they had worked, would enable them to look back on their endeavours with the satisfaction of knowing that something had been done, and something really accomplished. Loud applause greeted Mr Coates. After thanking all those people whose good wishes were with the delegates, he recalled special circumstances which had made the conference a distinctive one among imperial conferen es. The Ottawa Conference, he added, met during the depth of a world-wide depression. He said: “The further you travel, the more you hear reports of conditions in other countries, the more you are impressed by the range and the severity of this de-

pression. Mr Coates then ''went on to review the proceedings and results of the conference. Referring to meat, he said they had agreed on a policy which was to have for its two-fold objective a raising of the price level to a figure that would be remunerative to producers, and a progressive increasing of thp share of the Dominions in the United Kingdom market. The full nature of the arrangements in regard to meat would, in all probability, be released between October 13th and October 18th. Much as he would like to satisfy their curiosity at present, he was unable to do so.

Mr Coates said he regretted that he could not disclose the nature of the concessions to be granted by New Zealand in return for preferences in the British market. Revised tariff rates, he said, had been agreed to on a number of articles imported into New Zealand from the United Kingdom. That list and the new rates, of course, could not be made public yet, but they would be laid before Parliament in the next schedule, which was also confidential for the time being. They had agreed, he said, to some revised tariff rates on the articles imported from the Crown colonies. “The advantages to New Zealand fiom the Ottawa agreement,” said Mr Coates, “cannot be measured simply by setting out gains and concessions in tariff duties. The -whole effect of arrangements successfully concluded, which are designed to stimulate Empire trade on a reciprocal basis, to raise price levels, and restore confidence, will benefit New Zealand in common with other countries.” He said the reductions that New Zealand may make in her tariffs on United Kingdom goods, in removing surtax or in reducing duties on specified imports, could be looked upon as concessions to the United Kingdom alone. Mr Coates said: They will cut the costs of production to our producers. They will reduce the cost o* living to ourselves as consumers.” There were only a few tariff items in which Now Zealand was to lower her tariff rates. He said none of the rates agreed upon would expose our local industries to unreasonable competition. All were keen to build up industries in New Zealand, but, he said, “there must be some basis competition, as we can’t have it both ways.” Brief reference was made by Mr Coates to impressions he gained during his short visit to the United States of America on his way home. From his short contact with American people he could see that opinion in the States was undergoing a profound change. It was recognised more and more that they could not prosper in isolation. “It would appear there is confidence growing in our Empire.” said Mr Coates. “There is a confidence there to-day that was not there some little time ago. Prices are rising, butter has moved up; wool has moved up a little; there is hope. We can look forward, we can encourage our farmers to go ahead, and it means a tremendous lot to this country, and although prices have a long way to go, the Conference and its achievements show that imperial sentiment can be brought down to detailed business arrangements to the mutual advantage of our countries. It can assist and enrich these arrangements. H will do so, and we shall survive.” Mr Coates resumed his seat amid applause, and the proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem.