NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20723, 17 November 1930, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION.

EMPIRE TRADE ISSUE. DISAPPOINTED AT RESULTS. TIES NOT WEAKENED. By Telegraph—Press .Association— Copyright. LONDON. Nov. M. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. G. \V. Forbes, in an interview said ''good undoubtedly would come out of the Imperial Conference if only because of the frank exchange of opinions and personal contacts it had made possible. New Zealand had been chiefly concerned with the economic side of the conference. 'Her ties with the Motherland did not require strengthening or safeguarding': However, ho would have liked lo have come closer in regard to mutual trade with Britain, New Zealand's chief market, instead of seeing it lying open to countries in which the standard of living was much below that of New Zealand. I* or instance Prussia was devoting herself to the exploitation of the British market nnd New Zealand's share of that market was jeopardised. Mr. Forbes said ho would have liked a practical safeguard to reassure New Zealand as to the future. The Dominion was striving to increase her purchases from Britain but found foreigners largely reaping the harvest. This was reducing the amount of money New Zealand could spend on British manufactures. " Nevertheless," said Mr. Forbes, "we havo not lost heart. We shall continue to do our best, depending on the outstanding quality of our goods and hoping that sentimental preference for Empire goods will strengthen and increase. Our production is rapidly increasing and we feel it to be equally important for Britain and ourselves that our future market shall continue to be in Britain.

"The Empire has resources to overcome the present economic difficulties and depressions if she shows the same unity as she showed in the war. At the same time we recognise Britain's right to decide her own policy and wo do not complain that the British Government has found it impossible to depart from free trade. It is not to cause a difference in our policy to Britain. We shall maintain 'and strengthen the existing sentiment to the utmost in favour of buying British goods and I feel sure this represents the sentiments of the whole of the people of NewZealand. " ONLY ONE RESULT. CONTINUED PREFERENCES. REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS. LONDON. Nov. 14. A summary of the proceedings of the Imperial Conference comprising several thousand words and embodying the entire work of the delegates was issued this morning. It shows that the following meetings occurred: — Three plenary sessions; 28 meetings of the heads of the delegations and 163 committee and sub-committoo meetings. Nothing is revealed beyond what is already known. The report merely confirms the fact that the sole concrete economic result of the conference has been the retention of the exising preferences and the deferring of the wheat quota to interim British examination preliminary to the conference to be held for its consideration at Ottawa.

The United Kingdom Government's first actual reply to the Dominions' preference proposals was not made until midnight. It stated plainly: "The interests of the United Kingdom preclude an economic policy which would injure its foreign trade." Britain's only alternative suggestion is the exploration of other opportunities per medium of a reconstituted Marketing Board and the Imperial Economic Committee. It is frankly admitted that not a single economic decision was reached.*

It is recommended that the Marketing Board he constituted a trust fund and reconstituted as a body of trustees charged with the administration of the fund, a charter to be extended to it to permit of it handling home-grown products, the board hereafter to be permitted to receive private contributions in addition to Government grants. Tho canned fruit sub-committee recommends attention to tho possibility of bulk purchasing and the formation of a purchasing organisation to negotiate longterm contracts with guarantees against dumping. Probably tho most concise section of tho report is contained in 16 words merely recording that conference received the Empire Press Union's revcommepdations in relation to cheaper rates for press cablegrams and wireless.