AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 72, 7 March 1933, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

FRUIT EMBARGO

REPLY TO N.I. INVITATION. NO PRESENT DISCUSSION POSSIBLE. By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright. (Received 7, 11.20 a.m.) Canberra, March 7. The Prime Minister, the Hon. J. ALyons, in a statement referring to New Zealand’s invitation to send a Minister to the Dominion to discuss the question of New Zealand’s embargo on Australian fruit, said that the position in Australia was that all Ministers dealing with trade and commerce were members of the House of Representatives, and that as the House this week begins its discussion of a complete tariff schedule which would require the whole of their attention for some months, it would not be practicable for any of them to leave the Commonwealth at present. A conference between Ministers, he said, was net likely to be fruitful unless it were preceded by careful preparation, and as the pressure of public business in both Dominions was an obstacle to this preparation being made at present, he suggested for the consideration of the New Zealand Government that in the ultimate interests of both Dominions it would be wise to restore the status quo. In the opinion of the Commonwealth Government this course would make for good feeling and would help towards the solution of what were really mutual problems. secession issue. (Received 7, 11.0 a.m.) Canberra, March 7. The proposal for a Federal non-party campaign in opposition to the Western Australian secession movement has been abandoned because the leader of the Federal Labour Party declined to take part. Mr Lyons stated that the Minister of Defence and the Minister in charge of developments will proceed to Western Australia to take part in a campaign against secession on behalf of the Federal Government. COMMONWEALTH LOAN. (Received 7, 10.30 a.m.) London, March 6. The market estimates that the underwriters are left with 40 per cent, of the Commonwealth conversion loan of £9,600,000.