OTTAWA AGREEMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21315, 17 October 1932, Page 9

OTTAWA AGREEMENTS

MEAT PRICES AT HOME RISE THOUGHT PROBABLE LONDON, Oct, 14 The Manchester Guardian, in an editorial article, says: "The Ottawa quotas are certain to cause a general rise in meat prices, which is not likely to be confined to the produce of the Dominions. It is probable that the reduction of the amount of imported frozen beef may raise the price of Argentine chilled and also English fresh beef, but the extent of the rise depends on the purchasing power of the British market. "Unless that is raised all the artificial methods of raising prices will be useless, and it may eventually be found that the meat quotas are the most important and the most far-reaching agreements made at Ottawa." LIBERAL CRITIC QUID PRO QUO WANTED CONCESSIONS TO DOMINIONS LONDON, Oct. 14 Sir Herbert Samuel, the former Home Secretary, (Liberal), speaking at Perth, declared that the great fall in the prices of sheep was due to a glut of Australian and New Zealand mutton, which the Ottawa Conference had permitted to enter free of duty, while Lancashire cotton and Yorkshire wool were heavily taxed in the Dominions. Sir Herbert added that he would like without unfriendliness to ask, "Why, if we admit Dominion agricultural products free, the Dominions should not admit British manufactures free?" PACTS PREJUDICIAL ARGENTINA'S INTERESTS REMEDIAL STEPS URGED BUENOS AIRES. Oct. 14 It is understood that a powerful rural society has sent a message to the President of Argentina requesting the immediate clarification of this country's position in face of the Ottawa agreements, "which are most prejudicial to the Argentine." The society lays stress on the fact that in 1931 Argentina's exports to Britain were valued at 246,000,000 gold pesos, and the British exports to Argentina at 106,000,000. The opinion is expressed that immediate .steps should be taken toward a commercial rapprochement between Britain and the Argentine. — f LESSON OF AGREEMENTS ECONOMIC WAR FOLLY INTEREST TO THE WORLD VANCOUVER. Oct. 14 The Vancouver Sun says the new tariff preferences under the Ottawa agreements will interest the world because they represent an international experiment which is going to have far-reaching consequences. If the experiment can teach a lesson on the folly of economic war it will have .accomplished a world purpose more important than the mere revival of trade within the Empire. The paper says economic warfare is stupid, and costs more than a great war. AFRICA SATISFIED GRUMBLING IN INDIA NATIONALIST PRESS HOSTILE LONDON, Oct. 14 The annual Commercial Congress at Capetown expressed satisfaction with the Ottawa agreements. They are fiercely condemned, however, in the Nationalist newspapers in India as iniquitous, unfair, and one-sided. It is declared that if they are approved it will sound the death-knell of the country's fiscal autonomy and industrial, economic and future development. The Calcutta Statesman says: "It is certain there will be no general reduction in prices and costs from the agreements, and the Empire will be fortunate if there is not a general rise.*' ,