EMPIRE TRADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 131, 4 May 1934, Page 7

EMPIRE TRADE

OTTAWA AGREEMENT WORDING. NEW ZEALAND’S SUGGESTION. EXCHANGE OF VIEWS PLANNED. (United Press Association —By Eleetrio Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received May 4, 11.20 a.m. RUGBY, May 3. Among the ifiatters raised in the debate on the Dominions Office vote in the House, of Commons on Monday will be the Ottawa Agreement, the -wording of which will be the subject of review. The recent New Zealand suggestion put forward with the view of stimulating trade with Britain will also be discussed. The Times says there will be an exchange of views between the Ministers and lit. Hon. S. M. Bruce as soon as he returns from Australia, particularly as he will be seeing Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes in New Zealand and Hon. R. B. Bennett in Canada during his journey to England. GREAT BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. FOREIGNERS AND DOMINIONS. LONDON, May 2. ' In the House of Commons, replying to Mr G. Mander’s question whether he would consider the advisability of a general consultation with the Dominions on the issues raised by New Zealand’s inquiry as to the possibility of an agreement for mutually free markets, Mr Ramsay MacDonald said that the Government had received no indication from any of the Dominions that such an arrangement was desired or would be acceptable to them.. Therefore, he saw no reason to think that such consultation would be of any advantage. The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent, discussing the New Zealand free trade inquiry, says that the Government will assure the Dominions that, its refusal to sacrifice the foreigner is due solely to the need for retaining Britain’s export markets, and should in no way be regarded as sn act of unfriendliness toward the Dominions. An editorial urges the Government to continue to seek an agreement with the Dominions on quantitative lines affording the producer a higher price for smaller supplies. VALUES OF BUTTER. QUESTIONS IN HOUSE. Received May 4, 12 noon. LONDON, May 3. In the House of Commons, Mr Ramsay MacDonald told Dr. Howitt (Conservative) that no suggestion had been brought to his notice as having been made to Rt. Hon. S. M. Bruce that an Imperial Conference would be held in London in 1935 to discuss the defence and economic policy in the light of Ottawa. Dr. E. L. Burgin, replying to questions by Mr Herbert AVilliams and Sir Gifford Fox, said the average c.i.f. value of New Zealand butter landed in March was 70s 8d per cwt. as compared with Russian, including duty, at 59s lid and Danish at 73s 7d. The minimum home price for Danish was 97s 6d. He was not aware of the wholesale price in New Zealand, but understood it was based on the London quotations. DANISH COMMERCE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 2. The Anglo-Danish Trade Agreement became operative in June, 1933, and Dr. L. Burgin (of the Board of Trade) in the House of Commons said that during the nine months ended March 31 last the total declared value of imports from Denmark amounted to £25,926,000, while exports to Denmark amounted to £9,722,000, including reexports valued at £502,000.