OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21153, 9 April 1932, Page 11

OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

DELEGATION FROM BRITAIN. ADVISERS TO ACCOMPANY. (Received April 8, R. 5 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY, April 7. The Dominions Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, to-day informed a deputation from the British Committee on Empire Trade that the Government had decided to appoint, trade advisers to the British delegation which was to attend the Ottawa Conference. The deputation expressed gratification and promised assistance and co-operation. The deputation represented the Association of Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of British Industries and the Chamber of Shipping. Mr. Thomas said five individual advisers would be sent, three representing the employers and two the trades' unions. Mr. Thomas later invited a deputation from the Trade Union Congress to nominate two representatives to accompany the British delegation to the conference in accordance with the Government's decision to appoint industrial advisers to its delegation. DAIRYING INTERESTS. AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE. (Received April f, 12.'25 a m.) SYDNEY. April ?. The Australian Dairy Produce Export Board has decided to send Mr. H. W. Osborne, a member of the board, to the Ottawa Conference in a consultative capacity. He will be authorised to confer with the representatives of New Zealand and the other Dominions in regard to the. preparation of a common policy on dairying problems for the conference. NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION. PRIMARY PRODUCERS* VIEWS. [HY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Friday. A deputation comprising organisations representing practically every section of the primary producing industries of the Dominion —the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation, the Meat, Dairy, Fruit and Honey Boards and the Federated Dairy Factory Associations throughout the Dominion—waited upon the Prime Minister, lU. Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister in charge of Unemployment, Bt. Hon. J. G. Coates, the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Downio Stewart, and the Minister of Education, Hon. R. Masters, this afternoon to urge tlie necessity for the early appointment of the Dominion's delegation to the Empire Economic Conference at Ottawa in July. The deputation urged that the delegation should include the Prime Minister and Mr. Coates as leaders of the Government and Sir James Farr, Leader of the Legislative Council. The Prime Minister said it was recognised that the principal question to be dealt with at Ottawa was preference. Preference to New Zealand primary producers had been given by Britain and the discussion at Ottawa would centre round the continuance of that preference and expansion of it to products other than those covered at present. The impression might have obtained that the Government was doing nothing in regard to collecting information for Ottawa. The Cabinet had been in touch with the British Government and the British Trade Commissioner, and also with Australia. A committee of the Cabinet had been appointed and a committee of the heads of the departments of Customs, Industries and Commerce and Agriculture was at v.ork collecting data and information. New Zealand had already done more than other Dominions in giving preference to Britain. What further preference would be required would be a matter for discussion. So far as settling the appointment of the delegation was concerned, Mr. Forbes said he would lie very pleased to go into that as soon as possible. It had to be remembered that in addition to the question of tariffs the Ottawa Conference would deal with such matters as currency, banking, etc., and it was hoped that some decision would be reached on those lines which would be of advantage to the Dominion and the Empire. Those questions would have a bearing upon the representation. but he hoped to be able to deal with the personnel very shortly*