IMPORTANT TALKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26473, 29 May 1947, Page 7

IMPORTANT TALKS

MR NASH IN LONDON “ GOOD AGREEMENT ” SIGNED DOUBLE TAXATION SYSTEM Special Correspondent Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, May 28. Mr Walter Nash and Mr Hugh Dalton to-day signed an agreement on double taxation. “It is a good agreement,” said Mr Nash. “We agreed that its terms shall be printed in London and New Zealand and then announced simultaneously. It is almost, but not entirely, similar to the agreement made between Australia and Britain, and it will give relief to British business houses and people in New Zealand, and vice versa.” . . Mr Nash added that negotiates for a double taxation agreement with the United States were under considerslion, and that he would discuss it with American officials while he was en route to New Zealand. Mr Nash will leave to-night to fly to Canada. While there he will inspect an aluminium plant, not with any idea of importing aluminium into New Zealand, “ though it might be all right to put a plant into New Zealand.” Dominion’s Urgent Requirements Before he left London, Mr Nash had a further talk with Sir Stafford Cripps, who provided him with a list of goods which New Zealand urgently requires, and with the importation of which Britain hopes to help the Dominion. * Passport Agreement Mr Nash said that while in Geneva he kept in touch with negotiations for a passport agreement. No finality was reached, and he would be looking into the subject on his return to Wellington. He was surprised, he said, that New .Zealand was not included in the list of countries the people of which did not require visas when entering France. This would be another matter which he would inquire into on his return. Wheat Prices Referring to the deferment of the world wheat agreement recently discussed in London, Mr Nash said he was not sure what effect the completion of the London draft proposals in their present form would have upon Existing arrangements between Australia and New Zealand. He did not think that the difference between the present rate of 5s 9d a bushel paid by New Zealand to Australia and the suggested minimum of a dollar a bushel stipulated in the London draft would affect New Zealand i Services Needed at Home Mr Nash said that suggestions recently made in Britain that another Imperial Conference should be held shortly had not been officially brought to his y notice. “ I cannot see Mr Fraser or myself coming away from New Zealand again while this present Parliament is on.” he added. Imperial Defence On the subject of Commonwealth defence, Mr Nash said the various, dominions were now considering individually what contribution they could make to lighten the load on Britain. The United Kingdom had made no specific proposals, and it was a matter ior each dominion to decide how best -t could assist. He envisaged a future conference to formulate a policy, but he had no idea when it might be held. Model for the World Commenting on the. conference at present being held in London to produce some scheme for a reciprocal Commonwealth social security system, Mr Nash said he was interested to know that New Zealand legislation had provided a model for other countries to follow Seed Market Glutted Mr Nash mentioned that Britain was imposing an embargo on New Zealand seeds and that he had discussed the subject with Mr Tom Williams, Minister of Agriculture. “They have more seeds in Britain now than they require,” he added. Ovation at Labour Conference During the week-end Mr Nash went to Margate, where the Labour Party is holding its annual conference. On the preceding night he had a long private conversation with Mr Attlee, and when the conference began he was invited by Mr Philip Noel-Baker to sit on the platform, from which he extended fraternal greetings from New Zealand. Mr Nash sat between Mr Attlee and Mr Noel-Baker and was given an enthusiastic reception. Agriculture and Trade On his return to London, he met Mr W W Mulholland, who reported events 'at the recent IFAP conference at Scheveningen, and Mr W. H. Perry, who attended the confernces both at Scheveningen and Geneva.