PLANS TO IMPROVE TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1930, Page 7

PLANS TO IMPROVE TRADE

CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS

STILL HOPE FOR DOMINIONS MR. CHANGE ‘QUOTA METHOD QUACKERY’ By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.' London, Oct. 16.

The heads of the delegations to the Imperial Conference had a further meeting to-day to, continue the exchange of view's on suggestions for improving Imperial trade. As certain questions of high policy were involved in some of these suggestions it was considered necessary for the discussion to - take place before /the matters in question were referred to a committee.

The main suggestions under detailed examination were: —

(1) Tariffs with preference for Empire products, with special reference to the Canadian proposal, which is now being studied by the appropriate departments of the United Kingdom Government.

(2) The quota system as applied to imports into the United Kingdom, particularly of wheat, but with possible extension to other commodities.

(3) Bulk purchase and import boards, which are connected.

(4) Means whereby British industrialists might taken fuller advantages of the opportunities for trade with the Dominions.-' As the result of discussion this morning these matters were referred to the committee presided over by the President of the Board of Trade, Mr. W. Graham. This afternoon that committee examined some of the questions arising in connection with the suggested quota on wheat, pending the production of the documents which the experts are preparing, and gave preliminary consideration to other matters referred to it.

‘'There is still hope,” said a delegate to-day, referring to the following statement by Mr. Snowden:—“l shall possibly have to outrage my strict financial principles and may do things which I could not justify under ordinary circumstances.” It is suggested that this foreshadows the introduction of import duties for revenue purposes.

New Zealand’s viewpoint on the trade discussions can be summarised as “quotas and imports boards introduced in an academic manner can be of lit de service to us. There is much talk of quack remedies, but if ever there were a quack remedy it is the quota and import bqard method. It is certainly inapplicable and is useless as far ‘as our butter and meat are concerned.”

‘HARDLY PLAYING THE GAME’ BRITISH POLITICAL PROPAGANDA. SURPRISE OF DOMINION MEN. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London,-. Oct. 16. 'Some ot the Dominion delegates are surprised at certain British political developments in connection with the Imperial Conference. As one delegate stated: “It is not for us to criticise, but Mr. Baldwin’s declarations appear to be hutting in on a subject which it would -have been expected during the conference would be regarded as subjudice. It seems to me hardly playing the game towards the Government, seeing that it is fully occupied with the conference, upon which, despite its free trade leanings, it ostensibly entered with an open mind to all proposals. Mr. Baldwin seems rather to have taken advantage of the Government’s position, the Government being fully occupied with the conference and therefore "unable to reply. Between all the discussions we hardly know .where we are.” Lord Beaverbrook, in a letter to the Press, vigorously condemns Mr. Baldwin’s policy as evasive and entirely inadequate, owing to his fear of proposing duties on foreign foodstuffs. He does not intend to take further heed of Mr. Baldwin in his Empire crusades.