OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 4074, 12 April 1932, Page 27

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

THE CURRENCY PROBLEM CANADA TO RAISE QUESTION. MONTREAL, April 5. Addressing the Canadian Club here, the Minister for Trade and Commerce (Mr H. H. Stevens) said: “At the forthcoming Imperial Economic Conference questions of inter-Empire trade will be carefully and efficiently studied, and high hopes are entertained that practical results will be achieved, but in my opinion the most notable service which the British Empire could render the perplexed and harassed world would be for the Commonwealth to find a solution of the currency problem. The Canadian Parliament, recognising the necessity of a monetary system will ensure stability of inter-Empire exchange, has instructed its delegates to promulgate the question at the conference and do all that is possible to achieve tfliis most desirable end.” _ HOPE AND CONFIDENCE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY?

OTTAWA, April G. Of the coming Imperial Economic Conference, Mr E. N. Rhodes (Minister of Finance) spoke in terms of the highest hope and confidence. “ While the world is close knit to-day in matters of trade and finance as never before in its history,” he said, “ we cannot expect normal or prosperous conditions apart from the general world trend. Nevertheless, some one nation or group of nations must assume the leadership and point the way to that end. An opportunity unique in history is afforded the British nations whose representatives will meet at Ottawa. If the members who assemble here meet in an atmosphere charged with determination to approach their deliberations from the viewpoint of mutual advantage, there will result measures which will give a marked stimulus to Empire trade. While these measures are primarily designed to stimulate trade within the Empire, they will release forces and establish currents which may Well flow beyond our borders, to the eventual benefit of the world at large.”

AMERICA AND THE CONFERENCE..

A MAYOR’S ALLEGATIONS.

VANCOUVER, April G. Urging the Western Provinces to unite solidly behind the Imperial Conference, the Mayor of Winnipeg (Mr R. Webb) told the Trade Board here that the wheat pool had been the tool of Russia, and he could prove it. A certain group in the United States was waging an active campaign designed to wreck the conference. Canada must rely on London, not on New York. THE BRITISH DELEGATION TRADE ADVISERS INCLUDED RUGBY, April 7. The Dominions Secretary (Mr J. H. Thomas) to-day informed a deputation of the British Committee on Empire Trad" that the Government had decided to appoint trade advisers to the United Kingdom delegation attending the Ottawa Conference. The deputation expressed its gratification, and promised assistance and co-operation. Mr Thomas later invited a deputation from the Trades Union Congress to nominate two representatives to accompany the United Kingdom delegation to the Ottawa Conference in accordance witn 'the Government’s decision to appoint industrial advisors to their delegation.

FIVE INDUSTRIAL ADVISERS

LONDON, April 7.

The British trade delegation which waited on Mr Thomas represented the Associated Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of British Industries, the Chamber of Shipping and the Trades Union Council. Mr Thomas announced that the Government would send five industrial advisers to Ottawa, three representing the employers and two the trade Unions. DAIRYING PROBLEMS AN AUSTRALIAN’S MISSION. SYDNEY, April 8. The Australian Dairy Produce Export Board is sending Mr H. W. Osborne, a member of that board, to the Ottawa Conference in a consultative capacity. He is authorised to confer with the representatives of New Zealand and other dominions in regard to the preparation of a common policy on dairying problems for the Ottawa Conference. NEW ZEALAND’S DELEGATION

QUESTION OF PERSONNEL

PRIMARY PRODUCERS’ SUGGESTION

WELLINGTON, April 8.

A deputation comprising organisations representing every section of the primary producing industries of the Dominion, viz., the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the

New Zealand Sheep Owners' Federation, the Meat Board, the Dairy Board, the Fruit Board, the Honey Board and all the federated dairy factory associations throughout the Dominion waited upon the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes), tne Minister in Charge of Unemployment (Mr J. G. Coates), the Minister of Finance (Mr W. D. Stewart) and the Minister of Education (Mr R. Masters) this after noon to urge the necessity for the early appointment of the Dominion’s delegation for Ottawa, and that that delegation should include the Prime Minister and Mr Coates as leaders of the Government, and that it should include Sir James Parr for the sake of his expert advice and experience. The deputation was introduced by Mr W. J. Polson (member for Stratford and president of the Neu Zealand Farmers' Union).

Mr D. Jones (chairman of the Meat Board) presented a considered statement setting out the views of the deputation arrived at in the course of full discus sions in meetings held over the last tw> days in Wellington. The statement thanked the Prime Minister for his in citation to the producing interests to co operate with the Government in connee tion with the Ottawa Conference. For many years New Zealand had given sub Spatial preference to Great Britain ami other dominions ana haj s*’cured in return the goodwill and trade suppGU of the people of Britain. The Mother Country, however, had suffered in her export trade through the high tariffs of foreign countries and now recognised the impera five need of protecting her home markets and developing Empire trade. The Ottawa Conference was of supreme importance. Representatives from all parts of the Empire would meet to draw up an agreement which would ensure to the different parties a far more substantia] portion of trade than was at present obtained. The deputation represented nine-tenths of the exporters from this Dominion and was therefore vitally interested in seeing that New Zealand's representation at Ottawa was the best that was availble. The country had the right to call upon its best to serve the national interests. After full consideration the primary producers in their conferences had unanimously decided to request that the Prime Minister himself and Mr Coates should lead the delegation. Further, the producers considered that the Government should avail itself of the best possible expert to accom pany these leaders, and in their opinion this expert was the Leader of the Legis lative Council (Sir James Parr), whose unique experience at Home as High Commissioner and his subsequent activities especially equipped him for the position lhat the appointment of the official delegation should be made at the e: rliest pos sible date was strongly urged in order that the producers’ organisations should be able to place their views be’ore them and enable the delegation to become thoroughly familiar with the whole of the facts of the position. It is also desired to get in touch with the producing interests in Australia so that the common interests of the two countries might ade quately be presented at Ottawa.

11? speakers in support of the deputation were Mr W. A. lorus (chairman of the Dairy Board) and Mr A. Morton (chairman of the National Dairy Association).

The Prime Minister thanked the deputation for placing before Cabinet the views of the primary producers. It was recognised, he said, that the principal question to be dealt with at Ottawa was picfeience. The primary producers of New Zealand had been given preference by Britain, and the discussion at Ottawa would centre round the continuance of that preference and the expansion of it to products other than those covered at present. The impression might have ob tained that the Government was doing nothing in regard to collecting informa tion for Ottawa. Cabinet bad been in touch with the British Government and the British Trade Commissioner, and also with Australia. A committee of Cabinet had been appointed, and a committee of the heads of the Departments of Customs Industries and Commerce and Agriculture under the convenorship of Dr Craig was at work collecting data and information. New’ Zealand had arleady done more than the other dominions in giving preference to Britain. What further preference would be required would be a matter for discussion.’ So far as settling the ap pointment of the delegation was concerned he would be 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.