DISCUSSIONS AT OTTAWA

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 July 1932, Page 5

DISCUSSIONS AT OTTAWA

Rapid Progress Continues AGREEMENTS BY DOMINIONS Joint Appeals To Britain BUTTER, MEAT AND FRUIT AID GIVEN BY EXPERTS. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) Received 10.20 a.m. to-day. OTTAWA, July 27. The fruit problem before the Dominion delegates to the Imperial Conference has been practically solved. Representatives of the fruit industry in all the Dominions met this morning with the leaders of delegations and agreement was reached in 90 minutes. The case, which is based on the same principles as the butter and meat eases, namely preference plus quota, is now ready for immediate presentation to the British delegates. Everybody connected with the industry is extremely pleased with the result. The rapid progress on the questions of butter, meat and fruit indicates the incalculable advantage of having industry experts on the spot, thus facilitating thoroughly businesslike discussions, inasmuch as all are intimately acquainted with the subjects. The political leaders are taking a minor part at this stage of the proceedings as far as commodities are concerned. Thus there is every indication that unless a hitch unexpectedly arises the conference will successfully conclude earlier than the most optimistic predicted. Probably every item of the lengthy agenda will be adjusted to permit the British delegates to embark at Quebec on August 20 on the Empress of Britain, on which they have pencilled berths. Mr.- J. G. Coates (New Zealand) enjoyed a flight over Ottawa this morning with a wartime comrade, Mr. J. A. Rogers, a resident of Toronto, who pilots his own ’plane. It was the first occasion on which Mr. Coates has snatched a couple of hours of leisure since the confeitence .opened. Mr. W.: Downie Stewart and lie had been working until 2 a.m. every day. Mr Coates will bring up at- the conference the question of unemployment with a view to establishing a committee of experts to investigate relief systems operating throughSut tiiQ Ehnpir© and collating any information likely to lie valuable. ' ... Although no official committees . met to-day, nevertheless there was great conference • activity and further meetings were held of the inter-Domimon industry sulb-committces, notably fruit.

SUBJECT OF EMPIRE CONTEST

PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS

OTTAWA,, July 26. Mr Nl. O. Hiavengai (South Africa) will :be presiding over the inter-Doiiim-ion fruit committee. 'The No. 1 committee has considered in a preliminary way the. subject of Empire content. concerning either Labour or materials, and. has. referred the matter to, a sub-committee for further examination. The comparative advantages of a, high Empire content, with exceptions downward for certain commodities, or a low Empire content with exceptions upward, were examined. The No. 1 committee decided to adjourn -white the sub-committees work and informal negotiations are proceeding. The object is- to obtain unanimity and simplicity of the content arrangement for Empire countries. At present Britain requires generally 25. per cent, of Empire content, Clanada 50, Australia 75, New Zealand 50 and South Africa and the Free State 25, all with the exception of certain articles. Messrs H. ,S. Gullett (Australia) and Stewart (New Zealand) to-day continued deliberations with the British Ministers, outlining the scope of possible Australian and New Zealand concessions.

FURTHER CANARD REFUTED. There is no foundation for a report published in the “New York Times” that Britain has rejected Messrs Bruce and Bennett’s plea, for an embargo, on Russian dumping of wheat. Britain has given no- major decision on any question. The conferences! and negotiations throughout have been frank and friendly and there have been no dissensions, although naturally there are some differences of opinion. ‘ The sugar question will shortly be discussed. There is a unanimous feeling among Empire producers, both Dominion and Colonial, that the differentiation whereby colonial sugar receives 20s a. ton more than the Dominions in the British market should be abolished, giving equality. The West Indies, Mauritius and Fiji agree that the present arrangement iis unsatisfactory. Australia, and South Africa are the only Dominions concerned. One of the next items for discussion will' be the problem of competitive Pacific shipping, which Canada, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia will consider with Britain with a view to amending the maritime law to prevent American lines competing between British ports. FILM OF THE OPENING The Ministers, entertained Mr Bennett a.t dinner at the Chateau Lanrier and informally discussed a wide range of subjects. The delegates at midnight attended a private .screening of a talkie film of the opening of the conference. Tho audience was amused at-a technical error of the announcer, who said that Mr Bruce would speak next when instead the camera was focussed on Mr Coates addressing the chamber. The Australia part of the picture was completely censored. The influential “Montreal Gazette*’ commenting editorially on its Ottawa correspond e-nt’is despatch, says: “The conference at tho very outset reached a. critical stage, responsible correspondents! naturally and properly painting the picture in the softest of colours, but it is becoming evident that if Ottawa; is to overcome the obstacles already encountered some of the viewpoints expressed must undergo radical modification. 1 f the complication's which have arisen a.re as formidable as some despatches imply the co-operative spirit seems certain to undergo a much more severe test than was contemplated when the conference opened. The uncertainty which surrounds the attitude of the British delegation appears to be hampering the [conference and creating a situation for which the word ‘critical’ I is not too strong.” ' All the delegations consider that the foregoing is far from fact and that the

conference is getting to grips with vital business and is in perfect harmony.

BASIS OF DISCUSSION.

MEAT TRADE’ PROPOSALS

OTTAWA, July 27. The proposals cabled from. Suva formed the basis of discussion by the Dominion representatives at the Imperial Conference, who reached agreemetn to-day on a joint case regarding ing meat proposals to be made to Britain. Canada indicated that she was interested in bacon and cattle on the hoof. Canada is the only Dominion able to send mild-cured bacon to Britain, because the problem of carrying across the tropics' has not been solved. Australia, however,' is keenly interested in raising bacon prices from the present 55 s to 75s to 80s. She could then export frozen pig carcases at a profitable price, enabling British curing factories to recommence operations. Australia and New Zealand are the only Dominions vitally interested; in mutton and lambi

Australia’s greatest interest is in beef. South Africa’s* new and extraordinarily keen interest in beef is the outstanding feature. . Australia has been lengthily in communication with British agricultural interests, recognising in them a strong ally, inasmuch as they supply half Britain’s beef requirements and a substantial portion of the bacon and lamb. They are closely following the possibility of a quota upon foreign importations. Finality was reached in regard to the attitude of Australian meat exporting interests at the conference through the Commonwealth’s delegation. The proposals made by the representatives of the industry in London and which have been adopted by the Australian producers are of interest to New Zealand exporters. They were cabled from Suva as follows: Any regulations made by the Government in Britain which interfere with the hitherto unrestricted importation of meat should be framed: (1) So that the consumer is not injured by any excessive ripe in prices; (2) so that, firstly, the British farmer is assured of a steady, dependable market for his meat in his home market and that the British producer should have priority over meat imported fro nr foreign sources; (3) so that the export trades of the United Kingdom will benefit by the preferences obtainable through using the bargaining power of the tariff and regulations imposed; (4) so that elasticity is provided whereby gluts or shortages are avoided.