OTTAWA AGREEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17916, 21 October 1932, Page 8

OTTAWA AGREEMENTS

SIR J. SIMON’S DEFENCE POWER TO NEGOTIATE (British Official Wireless.) Roe. 2 p.m. RUGBY, Get. 21). Sir John Simon, in the House of Commons, dealt with the contention put forward by Sir Herbert Samuel that it was unconstitutional for the Exocittive to bind the House (if Commons in negotiating commercial treaties involving taxation for more than 12 months, lie cited instances to show that there was nothing new in undertaking a treaty which bound Parliament for a number of years with regard to duties which might be imposed upon particular kinds of goods. If such matters we re to he opened to review every six or 12 months They would he creating a paradise for those who indulged in lobbying on behalf of particular interests."

Sir John Simon staled that it was absolutely untrue that Ottawa precluded Britain from bargaining successfully with foreign countries. Since l lie recent changes of the taritl policy, the Foreign Office had been visited to quite an unusual extent hy representatives of different countries desiring to negotiate trade matters. lie recalled Hie efforts of the late Mr William tfralmm to promote an international linin' truce, and said that. they had failed because Britain then had nothing with which to negotiate. As a result.of the Ottawa agreements, Britain had ail opportunity such as she had never had before for making bargains with other countries.

Mr. MacDonald annum teed that, the setond reading of the Ottawa Agreements Bill would he concluded next Thursday.