AFFAIRS OF THE EMPIRE

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1930, Page 3

AFFAIRS OF THE EMPIRE

AGENDA FOR CONFERENCE PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT. DISCUSSION ENDS WITH JOKE.

By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A statement on the subject of the Imperial Conference was made to the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes. He said that tentative agenda had been decided upon, and the subjects to be considered fell under the following heads: (I)...lnter-Imperial relations, (2) foreign policy and defence, (3) economic questions. Mr. Forbes stated in regard to interImperial relations that the particular questions for consideration would be the recommendations of the recent conference on the operation of Dominions’ legislation, including certain matters expressly mentioned in the report of that conference as requiring further examination, namely, nationality and the suggested tribunal for the determination of inter-imperial disputes, also other matters of a constitutional character congnate to and arising from those discussed in the report of the Inter-Im-pcriol Relations Committee of the conference of 1926, Under the head of nationality tlie special question of the position of married, women would be included.

As regards foreign policy and defence the agenda* would cover the further development of a peace' and arbitration policy. This heading would include the questions of reduction and limitation of armaments, together with any specific subjects connected with foreign policy which might require examination, and the various aspects of defence on the economic side. The following would be the main headings: ■ .

MAIN HEADINGS OF AGENDA. (a) The general question of the trade of the Empire, including capital investments and the establishment of branch industries, the effect of successive tariff and the extent and effect of inter-imperial tariff preferences, and also cf other factors such as cartels, etc. (b) Bulk purchases and price stabilisation. (c) Development of intcr-Imperial trade by trade commissioner services, exhibitions and general publicity. (d) Overseas settlement, (e) The past and future work of the Imperial Economic Committee, the Empire Marketing Board and the Imperial Institute. (f) The question of co-operation in agricultural research (including cottongrowing), forestry and minerals. (g) A special meeting of experts on industrial research and standardisation. (h) Transport and communications, including a review of the work of the Imperial Shipping Committee and the Overseas Mechanical Transport Council, a survey of steamship services, development of civil aviation, cable, radio, broadcasting, postal and news services. Under this heading would come also the question of proposed agreements relating to merchant shipping legislation recommended in the report of the conference on the operation of Dominions’- legislation. The Leader- of the- Opposition, the Right Hoh. J. G. 'Coates, asked the Prime whether he would set aside a day to discuss the -questions that would arise at the conference and whether he would submit’a subsidiary report indicating the Government’s views on them. While he realised, he said, that there were some subjects which could not be discussed without breach of confidence, there were other questions which had already been quite freely debate'd in other Dominion Parliaments. Mr. Forbes said he would set aside a day for the discussion of the questions as soon as possible and he would see what could be. done ih the way of meet-; ing the other request made by Mr; Coates. Mr. H. E. Holland,- Leader of the Labour Party: What day docs the Prime Minister. intend to leave for the conference? Mr. Forbes: .That depends entirely on the- House, which has sacral critical questions before it; for instance, there is a no-confidence motion before it. Mr. A. M. Samuel: Are you-going by the same route as Mr. Mackenzie King?.