WARNING ISSUED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 13

WARNING ISSUED.

New Zealand and the Ottawa Conference. SHOULD NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 18. Concerning the Ottawa Conference, a serious warning was issued from Cabinet circles to-day that New Zealand primary producers should not expect too much, and that, no matter how successful the Conference is, it cannot be regarded as a medium for ushering in suddenly a period of high prices and general prosperity. For the past few weeks, members of the Cabinet Ottawa Conference Committee have been hearing representations from various primary producing interests, wl ich have advanced their views and stated what they consider most necessary in any move to better their position on .the world market, and especially in London. The opinion of the Government is that much will remain to be done after Ottawa, and that those who look to overseas markets for the placing t>f their produce cannot afford to anticipate that by mere fixation of reciprocal tariffs their exporting problems will be solved. . It is unlikely that the Prime Minister will announce the personnel of New Zealand’s delegation until he knows what will be in the agenda paper. The general belief is that Mr Forbes and the Minister of Finance will be the Dominion’s representatives, but so far no official information on the point has been given. Mr Forbes said to-day, however, that once he knows what will be discussed at Ottawa he will lose no time in announcing his intentions.

PRODUCERS’ INTEREST. Government Asked to Send Mr Coates. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 18. The Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-night dealt with the business to be transacted by the New Zealand delegation at the Imperial Conference at Ottawa. The following report by a special committee was adopted:— “ We recognise that the Ottawa Con- \ Terence is planned to strengthen the bonds of Empire by arranging for freer exchange of our several exports. It is essential for the welfare of every section of the people of this Dominion that the Conference assist in some way our export industries. We feel that there are reasonable prospects that the British delegation will be prepared to assist these by putting a quota limit upon foreign competitors in conjunction with Empire preference. “ This will assist the economic recovery of British farmers as well as British Dominion exporters, and is in accord with the proposal made to British farmers when visiting here in 1930.” There was a diversity of opinion regarding what recommendation the New Zealand delegation should offer in tariffs upon British manufactures, and eventually the following motion was carried by eleven votes to ten: “If it is necessary to provide compensating advantages to Great Britain which she may require in return, the New Zealand delegation should be given a free hand to negotiate either in tariff reductions or such other plan as may be considered desirable in the interests of the development of the Empire.” The following additional remit was approved: “That it is essential that the most serious consideration should be given at Ottawa to the proposal to establish an Imperial Bank of Currency.” It was decided that a deputation should wait upon the Prime Minister to-morrow to stress the importance of Mr Coates being included in the New Zealand delegation in the interests of the primary producers.

Sir Francis Boys Nominated as Representative. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May IS. It was announced at a meeting of the Farmers’ Union executive that Sir Francis Boys, of Christchurch, had been nominated by the union for inclusion in the Ottawa delegation. Referring to the Ottawa Conference, Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., presiderit of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, said that preferences with quotas would be of great value to the dominions, and wo-uld have the, effect of stimulating primary production in this country. Without quotas, it would simply mean that foreigners would accept less.

AGENDA NOT TO HAND.

Reason for Delay in Choosing Delegates. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, May 18. One of the most important matters to be decided by the Government in the near future is the personnel of the New Zealand delegation for the Ottawa Conference. The delegation will have to leave New Zealand in five or six weeks, and it is expected that an early announcement will be made. To some extent the formation of plans for Ottawa has been delayed owing to the non-arrival of the Conference agenda, and the Government is still somewhat in the dark as to the subjects that will come up for discussion. It is not yet definitely known wi.ether the representatives will be called upon to discuss monetary and currency problems, although the Government assumes that the British Government will be anxious to have a general discussion on these problems. Information Being Obtained. In the meantime the Government is obtaining the views of various interests on a variety of problems in order that the delegation may be well armed. Representatives of the Fruit Control Board are meeting members of Cabinet this afternoon, and to-morrow representations will be heard from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the Dominion executive of which s at present in conference in Wellington. Although there is a general agreement that the Ottawa Conference will be of outstanding importance there ap-

- pears to be a feeling in official circle: I that some sections of the community : are showing signs of placing far toe - much reliance on the Conference as £ - way out of their present difficulties. I • is believed that the decisions reacher - at Ottawa will have a beneficial effec in the long run, but those in close ■ touch with the position hold that i l may be somi time before the benefit: - are fully fell