PRESS REVIEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1932, Page 5

PRESS REVIEWS

OTTAWA BUSINESS EXPRESSIONS OF SATISFACTION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

LONDON, October 13

“The Times,” referring to the Ottawa Agreements, says: “It may be said immediately that tli e concessions given to British industry in the Dominions’ markets are more substantial and cover a wider range of our exports than had generally been anticipated. ■When the modified duties are effective a great step will have been taken towards free trade throughout the Empire. There can be no doubt thaj. the Agreements taken as a whole, do constitute a lowering, and not a .raising of tariff hindrances to trade.

The “Daily Telegraph” says : “Now that the schedules are published in full, the majority of British industrialists will be surprised to find that the Dominion concessions are as, numerous and as valuable as they are that Britaih has secured an enorm'-’s opportur ty for her export trade. The Government’s avowed intention 'is to raise wholesale prices of foreign meat. This will almost certainly be misrepresented as a wicked attempt to make the British consumer pay more, hut if the live stock industries of the world are ruined, the meat supplies will shrivel. Then the prices will soar, so that the poorest meat will become a luxury. The wholesale prices can rise a long way without any reasonable excuse for advancing the retail prices.”

The "Daily Mail” says: “The agreements satisfy all but the small minority of people here, who believe that .it is wrong to take any step to promote trad© within the Empire, or to benefit British industry, by tariff adjustments." The “Morning Post” while suspending 'its detailed judgment, s ays that it finds substantial grounds for confirming its original impression that the Dominions’ concessions offer a fair return for advantages accorded them by Britain, and that the net result will b d an increase in the volume not only of Empire, but of world trade.

VISCOUNT SNOWDEN AS CRITIC

OF THE OTTAWA AGREEMENT

LONDON. October 12.

In an article in the “Financial News” Lord Snowden severely criticising the Ottawa agreement, says: ‘fin order to . get illusory, concessions from the Dominions, the Br-'trh delegates agreed to raise the existing duties against the foreigner on a number of foodstuffs. Australia agreed to limit 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 largely responsible for the fall in P r icO. “It, is frankly .admitted that restriction on imports of foreign meat is to enable the Dominions to obtain a higher price at the expense of the British consumer. In every case, . the British concessions mean increase m the price of commodities, mainly necessary food-tuffs, but in the case of the Dominions, all the changes give relief to Dominion traders and consumers. “Anyone, acquainted with the h’story of Tariff Boards in the United States and Australia, will have little faivth in the impartiality of . such Boards, especially when nominated by Mr Bennett. It is just a bit o! usele’s window dressing.”

MR BEX NETT’S OPINION

OTTAWA, October 12

Tji outlining in the Canadian House •of Commons the details of the Tiade Treaties made at tlm Economic Conferences, the Prime Minister, Mr Bennett, declared: “Canada will carry out her part under the agreements in the sp'r't in which they were made, and no good Canadians will dare to suggest that any Empire country will be behind us in the recognition of those obligations, which are not evidenced necessarily bj the written word, but hv the very warp and woof of the agreements we hav/ concluded.

NEW ZEALAND AND CANADA

OTTAWA. October 13

Referring to the presence of tin Xow Zealand delegation at the Economic Conference, the Prime Minister, r\lr Bennett, on Wednesday told the House of Commons that it afforded an opportunity of discussing an extension of the trade agreement between the two countries in April for one year. TTe hoped further negotiations would lei’d it) the conclusion of another agreement for a long period.

AMERICA AND CANADA

NEW YORK, October 12

The “New York Times” ” Ottawa correspondent telegraphs: “The publication of the Canadian-Cniled Kiagdoin a;:;"ooincuts discloses that the United States exports to Canada, norij>•«l]y nggrcgnt : ’’g many hundreds cf millions of dollars are affected. Thus 225 of the AC-2 tariff changes are for tho direct i urpose of transferring part of Canada’s import trade from the United States t 0 Britain, since they arc chiefly of an industrial charaetei where steel audj iron arc the basic materials.”

RATIFICATION IN FIJI

SUVE, October 13

The Legislature of Fiji, owing to the geographical position, was the first Empire Legislature to pass legislation implementing the Ottawa Agreements at its meeting this morning The special Fiji preferences to New Zealand, the United Kingdom. Canada and Hong Ivong were repealed. Australia nrmvPp Fiji to export to Sydney and Melbourne about 4100 cases of bananas monthly at a duty of) 2s Od per cental, instead of 8 S as formerly. Other preferences are granted according to the Ottawa Agreements.