OTTAWA DELEGATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 9

OTTAWA DELEGATES.

PARTY ON TITE AORANGI.

VIEWS BEING EXCHANGED.

UNITED PROGRAMME SOUGHT.

MR. COATES INTERVIEWED. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. SUVA, J'uly 1. 'The Australian and New Zealand delegales to the Ottawa Conference are taking advantage of the opportunities on board, ship for a series of consultations with a. view to developing uniformity of attitude. Representatives of the various industries are discussing details of their respective aims and hope to achieve a united programme bctorc the conference opens. Ihe exchange of views with industrial leaders of other Dominions has reached an advanced stage. 'The, Australian delegation is armed with voluminous reports on primary industries. This shows that the. Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, did not exaggerate when he .said no previous delegation from Australia, was better equipped. 1 lie feeling of optimism among the Australian and New Zealand delegates is undiminished. 'lhere is a determination to achieve more than mere formulas, but it is admitted that the question of Empire currency presents a problem of first magnitude which will probably be tackled in the. earliest stages of the conference. The leaders of the Australian delegation, Messrs. S. M. Bruce and H. S. Gullett, and their experts have been in daily session since leaving Auckland. Mr. J. G. Coates has a dual responsibility, for, whereas Mr. Bruce arid Mr. Gullett are looking only ahead arid reading the wirelessed reports of the Premiers' Conference with detached interest, Mr. Coates still retains the portfolio of Employment which has latterly become the most important post in the New Zealand Cabinet. Mr. Coates on the Unemployed. In an interview, Mr. Coates said that the unemployed in New Zealand, numbering 54,000 male adults, realised that the Government was doing its utmost on their behalf to the absolute limit of the funds available. Although there were a few agitators, mostly not native-born, who were constantly seeking to stir up trouble, the great majority of the unemployed had taken the sane view that the Government was not to blame for the distress.

When it was first suggested that single unemployed men should work for 10s a week plus rations, the proposal was greeted with derision, but latterly the men concerned had realised the true facts and on the day he left Auckland 150 young men had entered a working camp on these terms. Already many other camps were working satisfactorily. A particularly encouraging feature indicating that the men were showing the right spirit was the fact that relief workers were shovelling an equal yardage of material on road-making and drainage works to that done in ordinary conditions. There were 5000 men under the supervision of experienced miners engaged in alluvial and quartz goldmining in Central Otago and the West Coast aud Thames, 2000 of whom were subsidised by the Government. Gold in the Keefton District. There were exceptionally promising reports of finds of gold in the Heefion district, said Mr. Coates, and the Government was financing many of these ■platoons of eager miners, a large proportion of whom were already self-support-ing, having repaid the Government's relief at the rate of 10 per cent, of their gold returns.

Many men who had been assisted to settle on 10-acro farming sections with tho option of purchasing adjoining blocks of 50 to 60 acres, were already doing well.

Unemployed women were not directly under Government supervision, but private organisations with Government assistance were helping the women to find suitable work. The former wages and working conditions were necessarily modified until tho Dominion returned to normal, but everywhere there was a spirit of willingness to share the sacrifices which had to be made. Single-minded New Zealanders. This single-mindedness, said Mr. Coates, was characteristic of the whole country, and was the happiest augury for rehabilitation which tho hope of Ottawa would facilitate with important trado measures. He earnestly hoped that day was not far distant when Government relief would be no longer necessary.

Mr. W. Downie Stewart, whose health is benefiting by the restfulness of the voyage, is now appearing on deck in a wheeled chair, watching the games and enjoying the increasing sunshine.

The Australian and New Zealand delegates were entertained to luncheon to-day by the Governor of Fiji, Sir A. G. M. Fletcher.

AUSTRALIAN MEAT.

POLICY FOR CONFERENCE. TARIFF SCHEDULE FRAMED. SUVA, July 1. The Commonwealth's proposals for the Ottawa Conference to assist the meat industry will bo based upon a. schedule of duties drawn up by the London representatives of tho Australian industry. There will also bo a recommendation that the British Government should restrict foreign imports with the object of adjusting them to provide for the seasonal requirements of the British markets. This would avoid gluts and shortages and would assure steady, average prices.

The tariff proposals are: Beef, mutton, lamb, pork and veal to be accorded preferential Empire tariff, all free, with a full foreign tariff of ljd per lb. 011 beef, 2d on mutton, lJ,d on lamb, and a preferential foreign tariff of 3d per lb.' on pork, and per lb. on veal. Tito Australian industry's original proposals, which have now been abandoned, were for an absolute preference of lid per lb. on frozen and chilled mutton, bnib, beef, veal and frozen sundries, and an absolute preference of 2d per lb. on preserved, canned, smoked and salted meats.

The leaders of Australian industry, on reconsideration, yielded to strong London representations that the latter higher protection "was impracticable.