OTTAWA AGREEMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 257, 13 October 1932, Page 7

OTTAWA AGREEMENT

VISCOUNT SNOWOEN’B CRITICISM “USELESS WINDOW-DRESSING.” (Received 13, 1.6 p.m.) London, Oct. 12. In an article in the “Financial News” Viscount Snowden, severely criticising the Ottawa agreement, says: “In order to get illusory concessions from the dominions the British delegates agreed to raise the existing duties against foreigners on a number of foodstuffs. Australia agreed to limit her exports of mutton and lamb to the United Kingdom to the amount exported for the year ended June, 1932, but Australia can well afford this as these exports were abnormal and were largely responsible for their fall in price. It is frankly admitted that the restriction on imports of foreign meat is to enable the dominions to secure e higher price at the expense of the British consumer.

“In every case the British concessions mean an increase in the price of commodities, mainly necessary foodstuffs, .but in the case of the dominions all the changes give relief to-dominion traders and consumers. Anyone acquainted with the history of the tariff boards in the United States and Australia will have little faith in the impartiality of such boards, especially when nominated by the Hon. R. B. Bennett. It is iust a bit of useless window-dressing.”