CONFERENCE AT OTTAWA

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 9 April 1932, Page 6

CONFERENCE AT OTTAWA

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION PRIMARY PRODUCERS’ VIEWS SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONNEL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 8. A deputation drawn from organisations representing every section of the primary producing industries of the Dominion —the Farmers’ Union; New Zealand SheepownerV Federation, Meat Board, Dairy Board, Fruit Board, Honey Board, and ail federated dairy factory associations —waited upon the. Prime Minister, the Minister in charge of Unemployment, the Finance Minister and the Hon. R. Masters this after--noon to urge the necessity for the early appointment of the Dominion s delegation for the Ottawa -conference, that that delegation should include the Prime. Minister and Mr Coates as leaders of the Government, and that it should include Sir James Parr for the sake of Ins expert advice and experience. i The deputation was introduced by Mr W. J Poison, president of the Farmers’ 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, discussions at meetings held over the last two days in Wellington. The state-1 ment thanked the Prime Minister foi l the invitation to the producing inter-] tscs to co-operate with the Government' in connection with the conference.

PHKFEHENGEB given. For many years New Zealand liad given substantial preference to Britain and the other Dominions and bad secured in return the goodwill a h d trade support of the people oh .Britain, said the statement. Britain, however, laid suffered in lier export trade I through t-lie high tariffs of foreign countries and now recognised the imperative need of protecting her home markets and developing Empire trade. The Ottawa .conference was of supreme importance. Representatives from all parts of the Empire would meet to draw up an agreement which by duty aud quota would ensure to the different parties a far more substantial portion of trade than was at present obtained. The deputation represented mnetentUis- of the exports from the Dominion and was therefore vitally interested m seeing that New Zealand’s representation at Ottawa was the best that was available. The country liad a right to call upon its- best to serve the, national interests. After full consideration the primary producers in. their conferences liad unanimously decided to request that the Prime Minister and Mr Coates should lead the delegation. Further, the producers considered the G overnment should avail itself of the best possible expert to accompany- these leaders, and in their opinion this expert was fir© Deader of the Legislative Council, Sn; James Parr, whose unique experience in Britain as High Commissioner and liis subsequent activities especially- .equipped him for the position .

EARLY APPOINTMENT URGED That the appointment of the official delegation should be made at the earliest possible date, was strongly urged in order that tire producers'’ organisations should be able to place their views before them and to enable the delegation to beeome thoroughly familiar with the whole of the facts of the position. It was also desired to get in touch with producing interests in Australia so that the common interests of the two countries might adequately be presented at Ottawa. Speakers in support of the deputation were Messrs W. A. lorns, chairman of the Dairy Board, and A. Morton, chairman of the National Dairy Association. The Prime Minister thanked the deputation for placing before the Cabinet the views, of the primary producers, it was recognised, he said, that the principal question to be dealt with at Ottawa was preference. Preference to New Zealand primary producers had j been given by Britain, and the discussion at Ottawa would revolve round the continuance of that preference and the expansion of it to products other than those covered at present. The impression might have obtained that the Government was doing nothing in regaid to collecting information for the conference, continued Mr .Forbes. Tire Cabinet had been in touch with the British Government and the British Trade. Commissioner and with Australia. A .committee of the Cabinet ; had been appointed, and a committee i of heads of the departments of GusI toms, Industries and Commerce and 1 Agriculture, under the convenorship of Dr. Craig, was at work collecting data and information. New Zealand had already done more than the other Dominions in giving preference to Britain. What further preference would be required would be a matter for discussion. So far as settling the appointment of the delegation was concerned, Mr .Forbes said, he would he very pleased to go into that as soon as possible. It bad to be remembered that in addition to the question of tariffs the Ottawa conference would deal with such matters’ as currency, banking, etc., and it was hoped that some decision would be of advantage to the Dominion and the Empire. Those questions would have a bearing upon the representation, but h.o hoped to be able to deal with the personnel very shortly.

I NIX'STB lAL ADVISERS. BRITAIN TO SKND FIVE. (Unil<><A Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) LONDON, April 7. After receiving a trade delegation which represented the Association of Cham hers of Commerce, the; Federation of British Industries, the Chamber of Shipping arid the Trade Union Council, All- J. M. Thomas announced that the Government would send five industrial advisers to Ottawa, three representing the employers and two the trades unions.