The Strafford Evening Post With which is Incorporated "THE EGMONT SETTLER" (Established 1890.) MONDAY, MAY 8, 1933 The Conference Invitation

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 237, 8 May 1933, Page 4

The Strafford Evening Post With which is Incorporated "THE EGMONT SETTLER" (Established 1890.) MONDAY, MAY 8, 1933 The Conference Invitation

MEW ZEALAND has received the expected invitation to the ii World Economic Conference, which will meet in London in about one month’s time. The invitation seems to be somewhat late in arriving, but it must be regarded purely as a matter of form. The Government could hardly have done otherwise than have anticipated receiving the formal request for Dominion representatives to be present. The importance of the World Economic Conference to the Dominion of New Zealand cannot be exaggerated, because it touches the very breath of life to New' Zealand, namely, international trade. International trade is not a simple problem, it is the most complicated of ail the fields of endeavour which humanity is engaged in. Unless the opportunities for international trade for New Zealand are widened beyond w r hat now obtains, then there can be no choice for New Zealand but to either reduce her standard of living or to reduce her total population. Anyone who can contemplate either alternative will view the World Economic Conference with a degree of indifference, but anyone who is desirous of seeing New Zealand people more numerous and more prosperous than thejf are to-day, must regard the Conference as of the most importance. The present situation may be likened to a fire and, as the Wanganui Chronicle says, some forms of economy are like saving water at a fire. For New Zealand not to strain every effort to stay the devastating conflagration which is the depression, on the ground of economy, it will be costly water-saving. New Zealand's representation should be the strongest and the most numerous possible, i here will not be the same need for the troup of experts which went to Ottawa. Ihe case for the primary industries is safe in the hands of Mr. Coates, and Mr. Downie Stewart should be invited to accept the rank of Minister without portfolio in order that he may be present at the Conference. Mr. Stewart was chairman of the Currency Sub-committee at Ottawa Conference, and the continuity of the v/ork done there should not be broken by a change of personnel in this regard. Parly political considerations should not be allowed to stand in the way of Mr. Stewart continuing as a representative at the forthcoming Conference, as he was at Ottawa, and subsequently during his London visit. The Prime Minister should, of course, head the delegation, not only from the point of view of his giving the delegation prestige, but to enable decisions to be arrived at with expedition on the spot. The fourth member of the delegation should be the Minister in charge of the Department of Industries and Commerce, because, despite any general steps which may be decided on in the Conference, the most fruitful method of achieving results is by direct negotiations between various countries. It will require a big delegation to take full advantage of the opportunities for bi-lateral negotiation which will be offering. This golden opportunity must not be missed. Ottawa offered small opportunities for gaining good results. London offers large and varied oppportunties for securing wider and more varied markets. Should Mew Zealand fail to secure as many of these opportunities as is possible in order to save the expenses of an extra delegate, then the money saved will represent the water left in the bucket when half of the house has been destroyed.