OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 230, 29 August 1932, Page 4

OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

! (Contributed by X.Z. Welfare League.? The most striking outcome of the ! Ottawa decisions is that the results I have, in many cases, been criticised j from the narrow point of view of party politics or sectional interests, i he broad view has been entirely overlooked by some critics, not only in England, but in. foreign countries, yet it is gratifying to note, in our cable news. the number who take the broad basis of Empire and World results. When looked at calmly, and from an unbiassed point of view, this Conference is the most important meeting that has ever been held by the nations composing the great British Commonwealth. The conflicting interests, under discussion, were so many and so dificult that it might have failed to c-orne to any decisions —a result which would have been disastrous to our Empire s future. Its success has proved that though the British Communities are scattered over the world. instead_ of being collected within a geographical boundary like other nations, yet they can pull together as one unit. The British and Xew Zealand Labour Pa’tles have definitely belittled the results, but this was onlv to be expected from their published views prior to the Conference. Foreign opinion takes a wider view in most cases end has welcomed thy agreement as a good augury for similar unanimity at the- forthcoming International Conierence. The present depression is largely due to faulty international policies, each nation selnshlv working for itself at a time when world co-operation was called for. Ottawa has broken this mistaken policy so far as the Empire is concerned, and it is a German paper which has expressed the truth. in a few words, namely, that the Conrerence has "for the first time successfully interrputed the tendency to split the international market into atoms." ■Some Xew Zealand critics have rasniv expressed hostility, to the agreement reached, berore the lull details are known, and entirely trom the ~ectional view point. This is a narrow stand to take and we reel sure that these opinions will be mod’Sed alter consideration of the tremendous significance of the fact that this important Empire Confv/nce hat shown its abilitv ’to work for the general good of the whole family of. British nations. and at the same time ha= given due regard to the interests of other countries. Considering that it was the first attempt to follow a new road or Imperial policy, we should be thankful that substantial progress lias been made rather than complain that more ha-s not been done. The importance of the occasion should set at rest the ridiculous opinion that it was unnecessary for Xew Zealand to be properly represented.