OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 June 1932, Page 10

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

ITS GREAT IMPORTANCE , (Contributed by the New Zealand Welfare League). Judging by letters to the newspapers there appear to be,many people.who profess to think that it matters not whether New Zealand is represented at the Ottawa Conference or remains away. \, More than one member of the Labour party has implied, if not actually stated, that it will not be of any use to the workers. These views show an extraordinary ignorance of the objects and possibilities of this great gathering, for it is undoubtedly one of the most important conferences that has ever been convened, so far as the Empire is concerned, as its decisions will affect the future of trade commerce and industry not only in New Zealand but throughout British possessions, they will equally affect every section of the community, whether farmers, employees or wagesmen. • The conference is not a political gathering so much as economic, it will not onlv be important from the point of view of each part of the Empire, but especially so for the whole, while its repercussions on world conditions must be important and far reaching. Some argue that New Zealand is _a small country with a population only equal to a large city and therefore cannot loom large at the conference. This is not the test. The question is not one of size, but whether each part of the Empire should not send its best and most capable men to assist in deliberations and decisions which will benefit the whole. But apart from this there will be questions to decide which may make or mar our own future however small we are, therefore it is the Government’s duty to the people to see that our leading ■ men should be present so that our interests do not run the risk of being overlooked in the general discussion. Not only questions of trade, tariffs, preferences and currency will be examined but also the pressing and difficult problem of unemployment thus it is essential that our delegation be fully conversant with all these matters.

The above facts appear so obvious that it seems unnecessary to state them, but some reply is called for to the recently frequent letters to the press belittling the importance of Ottawa.