FIGURES DIFFER

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1932, Page 5

FIGURES DIFFER

BRITISH CANADIAN TRADE

NEGOTIATIONS AT OTTAWA

MODIFICATION NECESSARY

EXPERTS RETURN TO TASK

NO SUGGESTION OF BREACH

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Ottawa, Aug. 9.

Tho British reply to the Canadian proposals is couched in the friendliest terms and is merely the first stage in the bargaining. There is a considerable gap in the respective estimates of the additional trading that would result from Canada’s proposals. It is like two schoolboys adding a column of figures and differing in the result. Britain suggests that further concessions are imperative, including structural steel for building purposes, various lines of cottons, particularly cheaper materials, also worsteds, chemicals, leather and glassware. The experts on both sides are' reviewing the figures with a view to arriving at the same tally. The official spokesman announced to-day that Mr. Baldwin’s letter setting out tho British views on the Canadian offer was being considered by a Canadian Cabinet sub-committee consisting of Messrs. Bennett, Stevens, Rhodes, Ryckman and Gahan. The spokesman emphasised that there were no differences or quarrelling between the British and Canadians, but there were radical differences of opinion regarding what Canada’s offer means to Britain in increased trade. So marked is the difference, he added, that he wondered from what angle the two groups of statisticians and experts were working.

CANADA’S DIFFICULTY.

It should be remembered, the spokesman continued, that it was much more difficult for Britain and Canada to reach a detailed agreement than for Britain and Australia, or Britain and New Zealand. New Zealand was almost unindustrialised, Canada was highly developed industrially, while Australia occupied a middle position between these two. It was a correct assumption that the Canadian-British negotiations were not so far advanced as those of some of the other Dominions.

There was no sign or hint of the conference breaking up. There were certain complicated and : delicate questions which were not likely to be. cleared up at thia conference. They would require detailed and prolonged expert examination. Questioned closely regarding the matters likely to be postponed, the spokesman indicated such questions as working out Empire standards, also Empire content. The currency gub-committeo met thia morning and completed its report, which will be presented to the full currency committee to-morrow. The spokesman said that the report was long, and interesting, and it might be published. Questioned further concerning the AngloCanadian impasse, the spokesman said that the Canadian experts adhered to the correctness of their figures. Mr. H. S. Gullett, Mr. J. G. Coates and Mr. W. D. Stewart spent a long day with the two. groups of British Ministers and engaged in a point-by-point discussion of the. preference scheme. Messrs. Bruce and Coates are satisfied with the further progress made. Indications are that the British are impressed With the need for some restriction on foreign- meat and butter. The Canadian Cabinet met this afternoon and considered the report of the Cabinet sub-committee on Mr. Baldwin’s communication. Cabinet is sitting to a late hour earnestly reviewing the figures and is expected to submit a modified plan.

The four sub-committees on currency, economic co-operation, industrial standardising and Empire content met this afternoon. The work of these sub-committees is nearing completion and the. reports ill be. submitted to the main committees., within a few days. Some will he published,