THE OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21101, 8 February 1932, Page 8

THE OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

The importance of the Ottawa Economic Conference in July cannot be exaggerated in view of the fiscal policy announced by the British Government, and this Dominion's part in it calls for early and adequate decision. Leaving aside the wider aspect of Imperial interests, as impressive in this country as in any other part of the Empire, there is clear need for using to the full so unexampled an opportunity for advancing the prosperity of this particular part. Very much depends on prior agreement here on what the Dominion is prepared to do, in general, in response to the Homeland's extension of preference. Nothing should be allowed to obstruct consideration of means to make New Zealand's participation effective. The conference will not lie of merely external importance; its intended purpose is inextricably interwoven with the domestic business of this country, and to allow it to be thrust out of thought for the sake of seemingly more intimate affairs would be suicidal. When the "strictly business" nature of its work is appreciated there is met the absolute necessity of a representation fully qualified to deal with matters of trade. It is not an Imperial Conference of the regular order—chiefly a gathering of heads of conferring Governments —but one calling, as its name implies, for specialist skill in its delegations. Valuable as prior consideration here will be, there arc bound to be raised at Ottawa points demanding close exchange of mutually modifying opinions. This will have to be done at the table, by responsible representatives, not remote from the table by members of technical staffs. In the economic section of the last Imperial Conference there were employed the services of technical advisers from the various parts of the Empire, and in the Ottawa Conference, which is to take up the work of that section, such aid will doubtless be as desirable. But there will be at Ottawa a full opportunity, as there was not at London, for exchange of views on matters of high policy, and technical advice can do only part of what will be necessary; its explanatory handling of departmental facts will not bo enough. The principle that ought to guide the choice of New Zealand's delegation cannot be in serious doubt.