OPTIMISTIC SPIRIT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 205, 13 August 1932, Page 8

OPTIMISTIC SPIRIT

OTTAWA NEGOTIATIONS date of closing announced. SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT ALL BOUND EXPECTED. Ottawa, Aug. 11. An official announcement that, the eonlerence would probably close on August 18 came as a surprise to the Dominion delegates, who, despite long conversations with British Ministers, have not yet succeeded in obtaining a definite indication of the ultimate decision regarding any commodity, although there has been a hopeful tone throughout, the proceedings. It is not considered that dairy produce and fruit will offer any difficulty. The most ticklish problem is meat, on which Mr Bruce and Mr Coates are taking an unswerving stand, it has been emphasised to Britain that a restriction on foreign imports, plus a small duty, represents the Dominions’ minimum requirement, for which agreement the Dominions are prepared to give an adequate retur . WAITING FOB CANADA. It is known that both Australia and New Zealand could conclude negotiations with Britain ir half an hour if Britain would declare herself, but. decisions necessarily are postponed pending the speeding up of negotiations with Canada. The generally accepted view is that now the closing date is announced, Britain will be prepared to make concessions sufficient to satisfy the Dominions, who, nevertheless, are anxiously awaiting the moment when they will learn the extent to which their desires are fulfilled.

The committee set up to consider the minimum percentage of Empire material and labour- embodied in imports so as to entitle them to preferential entry to Imperial markets recommends increasing the percentage over a period of three years, commencing at 60 per cent, for the first year and 66 for the second year, reaching a maximum of 75 in the third year.. The spokesman for the sub-committee formed to consider films and wireless sets admitted the possibility of the conference imposing a quota on foreign films. GOOD CHANGE OF AGREEMENT. The British delegation had long discussions Canada, Australia, India and South Africa and pushed the Work a stage further. The British also met the Rhodesian delegates, and later consulted their own industrial advisers. There were further long consultations between British and Canadian officials and British and Australian officials. A spokesman emphasised that the negotiations were proceeding as quickly as practicable, that there was an optimistic spirit and that there was a good chance of satisfactory agreement all round.

The plenary session on Thursday doe* not necessarily complete the conference work, but it is hoped then to dispose of the greater part of it. The delegates concerned will certainly remain in Ottawa until the task is completed.

There is strong probability that the decisions -will be embodied in a multilateral agreement, thus as far as possible tying them up together in one harmonious whole. This is an Imperial Conference, not a series of individual conferences. “WAIT AND SEE.” An American correspondent asked: “How can the promotion of Empire trade help the outside world?” The spokesman replied blandly: “Wait and see.’’ Questioned regarding Russia, he said that the Dominions' anti-dump-iug proposals were receiving very earnest consideration and the decision would form a part of the final agreements. He predicted that the general tenor of agreements would be published immediately after the conference’s endorsement. No major agreements have yet been concluded.

Britain, as a mark of gratitude for Canada’s lavish hospitality, is entertaining the members of the Canadian Cabinet and their wives at a dinner on August 18, subsequently giving a party and dance, to which everybody associated with the conference will be invited, MALONEY REMANDED. MAY BE DEPORTED. Ottawa, Aug. 11. Dan Maloney, suspected of designs on Mr Thomas’s life, reappeared in the Toronto Court and was again remanded in custody. The prosecution intimated that the immigation authorities were investigating the alleged irregularity of his citizenship and may apply for deportation. RUSSIAN DUMPINC. Tile matter of Russian “dumping” is of peculiar concern to Canada, as will appear from the following extract from an Ottawa message to the London “Times’’ early last month:— “Am'ong other large questions affecting indeed the whole business of preferential arrangements, great importance is attached here to that of Russian

dumping Canadians have bitter experience of the effect on their principal exports’—wheat, timber, fish—of Russian competition at prices fixed merely for the purpose of underselling them,' white the minor but important asbestos industry has suffered the same fate. Apart from price, certain complaints of British timber importers that Canadian supplies often do not conform to lequirements in regard to the method of felling, standard size of planks, etc., are well understood, and it is claimed that these defects could easily be rectified if precise requirements were better known and a market assured. No general resolution on this question can be framed before the Conference meets, but the case for common action is certain to be vigorously pressed before the whole body breaks up into sectional committees.”