WORK AT OTTAWA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21249, 1 August 1932, Page 9

WORK AT OTTAWA

GOOD PROGRESS SHORT RESPITES ARRANGED WEEK-END RELAXATION DELEGATES' SOCIAL LIFE MR, STEWART'S BIRTHDAY By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received July 31, 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA. July 30 Seeing that the Empire Economic Conference has made such surprising progress in the first week the delegates have made arrangements for a three days' holiday this week-end and a three days' trip next week-end. Tho only business done to-day was at a meeting of the heads of the delegations. They considered whether the illuminating speeches on currency, including Britain's statement, could be censored for publication. The delegates attended the Earl of Bessborough's garden party in tho afternoon and then packed their bags and left for various holiday resorts. Several have gone fishing in the lakes and streams of Gatineau, others have gone to country clubs, notably a party of 70 guests at tho luxurious log cabin called Lucerne, which is a country club on a millionaire basis midway between Ottawa and Montreal. There are facilities for golf, tennis, riding and swimming. The delegates attended a gala concert given by Canadian artists. The items included Alfred Hill's " Poi Song" and Percy Grainger's folk songs. Two special trains will take the delegates to Niagara on Monday. They will also attend the ceremonial opening of tho Welland Canal on Wednesday. This is part of the great scheme for the extension of the St. Lawrence waterway into the Great Lakes, which tho United States and Canada have jointly agreed to undertake over a period of 10 years. However, it is uncertain whether Congress will approve for economic reasons. The delegates will see the world's largest fresh water steamer, Lemoyne, pass through the new locks outward, carrying a' record cargo of grain. Tho Australian and New Zealand delegates are fully sharing tho great pressure of work, but still are finding an occasional respite. Mrs. .7. G. Coates is a very popular hostess. Mr. W, Downie Stewart, who celebrated his 53rd birthday yesterday, received many presentations and congratulations. Ho is actively participating in all the business of the conference and giving a strong lead as chairman of the Customs Committee.

TRADE DISCUSSIONS SOUTH AFRICA AND CANADA EFFECT OF LOWER VALUES ✓ (Received July 31. 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA, July 30 The Canadian and South African delegates to the Empire Conference are discussing the possibility of a trade treaty similar to those with Australia and NewZealand. Ifc is reported that Canada, South Africa, and Rhodesia are asking Britain for a prohibitive duty on foreign copper, giving Canada a preference of 2h cents a lb. and Rhodesia £l2 a ton. Canada last month lost the United Slates' copper market owing to the duty of 4 cents a Jb. Declining values represented 54.9 per J cent., or £24,000,000 of the decrease in | Canada's export trade in the past fiscal year. The volume of her exports decreased I only 12.6 per cent. I The volume of imports decreased 24.5. If values had been maintained Canada would have had a favourable trade balance of nearly £3,000,000 instead of an unfavourable balance of £400,000. FOREIGN IMPORTS GOOD SOURCE OF REVENUE AUCKLAND MERCHANT'S VIEWS The point that New Zealand has something to gain from importations from foreign countries is made by Mr. A. W. Boucher, of Auckland, in a communication to the Herat,n, in which he refers to proceedings at the Ottawa Conference and expresses the view that the attitudo taken up by New Zealand's delegates on this question will be interesting to watch. Ouo feature that had not so far been touched upon, said Mr. Boucher, was the revenue which was secured by the New Zealand Government from importations from foreign countries. An article appearing on the " freo " list from Great Britain, and carrying say 25 per cent duty from foreign countries, naturally contributed very substantially to our revenue if ft was imported, for example, from Franco. " There are many instances to-day of goods imported from foreign countries which are producing' more economically than British countries," added Mr. Boucher, " and in these cases our Government collects a substantial revenue. It might bo interesting to know that the claim made by countries supplying such materials is that as a result of their efficiency they are able to supply an article suitable for the public of this Dominion and at the same time contribute to tho revenue of our Government. There is no such tiling as " dumping " for tho reason that our customs declarations provido that the article sold in Now Zealand must not be sold to importers at a price below the home consumption value. This condition is well established so there can bo no claim that there is dumping by foreigners. " There is no doubt of the fact that whero there is a heavy duty on foreign goods, and these goods como into this country, the Government secures a substantial revenue through the efficient methods adopted by the foreign country and that tho public are satisfied with an article that meets their requirements. If the article were nob satisfactory to tho public obviously they would not continue to buy."