TRADE PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Age, 5 May 1934, Page 5

TRADE PROBLEMS

REVIEW OF THE OTTAWA AGREEMENTS. NO FORMAL CONSULTATION WITH DOMINIONS. \ BRITISH MINISTERS TO CONFER WITH MR. BRUCE. RUGBY, May 3, Among the matters which will be raised in the debate on the Dominions Office Vote in the House of Commons on Monday will be the Ottawa Agreement, the working of which will be the subject of review. A recent New Zealand suggestion, put forward with a view to stimulating trade with Britain, will also be discussed. In the House of Commons yesterday the question addressed to the Prime Minister implied that a communication from New Zealand favoured an agreement to place a free market, for New Zealand goods in Britain in return for similar freedom for British trade.

The Prime Minister replied that his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom had received no indication from any Governments in the Dominions that an arrangement of the kind referred to. was desired or would be acceptable .to them. He added that in such circumstances he saw no reason to think that any general consultation with the Dominions on this subject, as suggested by questioners, would be of advantage.

“The Times” says, however, that there will be an exchange of views between Ministers and Mr. Stanley Bruce as .soon as he returns from Australia, particularly as he will be seeing Mr. Forbes in New Zealand and Mr. Bennett in Canada during his journey to England.—(British Official Wireless.) (Another message from London reads:—“ln the House of Commons, Mr. MacDonald told Dr. H. B. Howitt (C.) that no suggestion had been brought to his notice as having be.en made to Mr. Bruce that an Imperial Conference be held in London in 1935 to discuss defence and economic policy in the light of the Ottawa Conference.”)

BUTTER PRICES. NEW ZEALAND & FOREIGN.

LONDON, May 3. In the H\use of Commons, Dr. L. Burgin, Under-Secretary to the Board of Trade, replying to Mr. Herbert Williams ’s* and Sir Gifford Fox’s questions, said that the average c.i.f. value of New Zealand butter landed in March was 70s 8d per cwt., compared with Russian, including duty, 59s J Id, and Danish 73s 7d. The minimum price in Denmark was 97s 6d. He was not aware of the wholesale price in New Zealand. He understood that it was based on the London quotation. MEETING MR. BBUCE. DISCUSSIONS AT AUCKLAND TO-DAY. WELLINGTON, May 4. Important discussions will take place at Auckland to-morrow between representatives of the New Zealand Government and the Australian High Commissioner (the Rt. Hon. S. M. Bruce). Mr Bruce is a through passenger on the Monterey, which is due at Auckland about 8 o’clock to-morrow morning, and will continue her voyage about noon. This will mean that the discussions will be limited to about three hours. ’

The representatives of the New Zealand Government will be the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes), the Minister of Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) and the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. R. Masters). Mr. Forbes and Mr. Masters left for the- north last evening, and Mr Coates left Wellington this afternoon. One of the most important matters to be discussed will be the position which has arisen *in regard to the dairying industry, and an exchange of opinions as to what are considered the best steps to take to meet the crisis is expected to be of great, value to- both countries. The Ottawa Agreements will come under review, and it is possible that Mr. Bruce will make known the Australian Government’s views as to the necessity of a miniature Imperial Conference. Although the British Prime Minister (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald) informed the House of Commons that the Dominions had made no proposal that such a conference should be held, it is understood that the Australian Government takes the view that some form of conference is necessary. It has been suggested that any conference held should fake place at Canberra, but it remains to be seen what attitude the British Government would), adopt towards such a proposal. Other important questions : -eeting future relations between Australia and New Zealand are also to be discussed in Auckland to-morrow.—(P.A.)