ECHO OF OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19308, 8 October 1932, Page 17

ECHO OF OTTAWA CONFERENCE

GRAVE DANGER HAS BEEN AVERTED

CHANCELLOR’S OUTSPOKE PRONOUNCEMENT United Press Association —By Electric telegraph—Copyright, LONDON, October 6. j “I believe a grave danger has been i averted by Ottawa,” declared Mr Neville Chamberlain at the Conservative Conference at Blackpool. “Before Ottawa, the Empire ties were frayed and there was a possibility of disruption.” Mr Chamberlain vigorously attacked Sir Herbert Samuel’s broadcast and stated: “It is peculiarly discreditable electioneering, exploiting class feeling and stimulating fears among the ignorant. I regret the Empire rela- | tions and Ottawa have been misrepre- i sented and made the sport of party passions. Never was there as more harmonious team than the British ! which unanimously approved of every j conclusion. I claim Ottawa the crowning achievement of a year of : wonderful endeavour and believe the , majority of Britons consider Ottawa ; the beginning of a new era.” IMPERIAL DEFENCE. RELATION TO DECISIONS AT OTTAWA. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright LONDON. October 5. “The Sun” learns that while some circles regard the revision of imperial defence, as dependent on the Dominions’ ratification of the Ottawa trade agreement, naval experts predict the reorganisation of the China and New Zealand squadrons, and the Australian and East Indies fleets under a supreme command, creating a Pacific fleet. The Admiralty denies thus far any official plans. FACING ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AUSTRALIA’S HEROIC MEASURES. 'ilnltcd Pr«ss AssocDMon—By Electric Tei *»r"?.ph—Copyright (Received October 7, 7.0 p.m.) GENEVA, October 7. Mr Stanley Bruce (Australian Minister in London), addressing the Technical Committee, said that a solution of economic problems was more important than a solution of disarmament. Many speakers blamed tariffs, exchange and currency restrictions, as the cause of economic crisis. A deeper cause was the low level of wholesale prices, and the burdens of debtor countries. If these problems were solved, many recent restrictions would automatically disappear. Australia’s position emphasised this. She had none of the handicap to which Europe's troubles were somewhat loosely attributed. She has no burden of arms; no excessive population; no shortage of resources. Yet Australia at first restricted imports, raised the tariffs, regulated the exchange and took every step to dam the flood of imports, and these were not done in pursuit of a fiscal policy or in the spirit of nationalism, but to meet external obligations.