OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19154, 9 April 1932, Page 12

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION. SUPPORT FOR SIR JAMES PARR. By Telegraph- ?»ress Association. WELLINGTON, April 8. A deputation comprising organisations representing every section of primary producing industries of the Dominion, viz., the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation, the Meat Board, the Dairy Board, the Fruit Board, the Honey Board, the Pig Producers’ and all federated Dairy Factory Associations throughout the Dominion, waited upon the Prime Minister (Hon. G. W. Forbes), Hon. J. G. Coates, Hon. W. Downie Stewart, and Hon. R. R. Masters, this afternoon, to urge necessity for the early appointment of the Dominion’s delegation for the Ottawa Conference, and. that that delegation should include the Prime Minister and Mr Coates as leaders of the Government, and that it should include Sir James Parr, leader of the Legislative Council for the sake of his expert advice and experience

The deputation was introduced by Mr W. J. Poison, president of the Farmers’ Union.

Mr D. Jones, chairman of the Meat Board, presented a considered statement setting out the views of the deputation, arrived at in the course of full discussions in meetings held over the last two days in Wellington. After full consideration the primary producers in their conferences had unanimously decided to request that the Prime Minister and Mr Coates should lead the delegation. They were convinced that the leaders of both parties should head the delegation. Such an action would carry weight, and the importance of the occasion called for it. The producers considered that the Government should avail itself of the best possible expert to accompany these leaders, and in their opinion this expert was Sir James Parr. That the appointment of the official delegation should be made at the earliest possible date was strongly urged in order that producers' organisations should be able to place their views before them. It was also desired to get into touch with producing interests in Australia. The Prime Minister, in thanking the deputation for its views, said it was recognised that the principal question facing the Ottawa Conference was that of preference. Cabinet had been in touch with the British Government, and the British Trade Commissioner] also with Australia, collecting information and data. Discussion would centre round the extension and continuance of preference. Banking and currency also would be discussed, and this would affect representation. He hoped to be able to announce the representation shortly. MR ACLAND SUGGESTED. By Telegraph Press Association HASTINGS. April 8. At a largely attended meeting of the committee of the Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Society this morning it was unanimously resolved to urge upon the Government, A. and P. societies, and farming organisations, the desirability that primary producers be represented at the Ottawa Conference by primary producers. Mr H. D. Acland was suggested as the most suitable from the societies’ viewpoint.