A CORDIAL ENDING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 425, 17 November 1930, Page 7

A CORDIAL ENDING

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE HELPFUL ASSURANCE GIVEN SINGAPORE BASE DECISIONS [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.] LONDON, Nov. 14. The Impcrail Conference ended in a cordial atmosphere and assurances helpful to all parties. The speeches were mainly of a felicitous nature. Mr J. H. Scullin, emphasising that the intricacies of the economic issues required longer time than was available, plumped outright for the adoption of the wheat quota. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, though disappointed that there had been no development of preference, said that New Zealand had no quarrel on that question. He believed that the ground had been prepared for future developments.

A voluminous summary of the proceedings confirmed the Australian Press messages concerning the decisions relating to the Singapore Base. An address to the King, expressing the devotion and affection of the peoples throughout the Commonwealth, was adopted unanimously. A reply was received from His Majesty expressing pleasure at having met his Ministers from overseas and wishing them a safe and happy return home. A resolution vas also adopted expressing the conviction that the detailed study of serious subjects in committee had been of great value, particularly in affording close personal contact between those engaged in similar work in various parts of the Commonwealth.

A further comprehensive resolution expressed the thanks of the delegates to Mr MacDonald for presiding and for the warmth of the welcome extended them in England and expressing the hope that although the Conference had met at a time of great stress and difficulty the work accomplished may prove of lasting value to the whole Commonwealth. Conference at Ottawa. Although the full hopes of some of the delegations had not been realised, there was general agreement that the Conference had been a success and high hopes are based on the outcome of the suggested Economic Conference at Ottawa, to which Mr Bennett extended a warm welcome. He reiterated his tariff preference offer which was still open, and, having expressed the belief that it would be accepted at Ottawa, he promised on behalf of Canada to consider carefully the wheat quota system.

Mr Forbes, in a general appreciation of Mr MacDonald’s conduct as chairman, stated that New Zealand made no complaint that the United Kingdom Government felt unable to depart from their fiscal policy. They were fully determined, however, to continue to increase where possible the preference to British goods.

General Hcrtzog, in his speech, also recognised the United Kingdom Government’s position regarding tariff preferences and the Irish Free State delegate expressed appreciation of the sincerity with which all of the delegations had been received.

The Newfoundland delegate referred to the circumstances of the unusual world difficulty that confronted the. Conference, which, however, had laid the foundation for important Imperial development. In his opinion the Conferences should be hold at more frequent intervals. Mr MacDonald briefly replied. Summary of Proceedings. A summary of the proceedings, running to several thousand words and embodying the entire work of the Conference, was issued this morning. It shows that the following meetings occurred: three plenary sessions, 28 of heads of delegations, 163 of committees and sub-committees.

Nothing is revealed beyond what is already known. The report merely confirms it.

The sole concrete economic result of the conference is the retention of existing preferences as cabled, deferring the wheat quota pending a British examination preliminary to consideration at the Ottawa Conference. The United Kingdom Government’s first actual reply to the Dominions’ delegates’ preference proposal was not made until midnight on November 13. It states plainly: “The interests of the United Kingdom preclude an economic policy which would injure its foreign trade.” The alternative suggestion was the exploration of other opportunities per medium of the reconstituted Marketing Board and the Imperial Economic Committee. It is frankly admitted that not a single economic decision was reached. It is recommended that the Market Board be constituted a trust fund and reconstituted as a body of trustees charged with administration of the fund, charter to be extended to permit of handling home-grown products, the Board to be hereafter permitted to make private contributions in addition to Government grants. The Canned Fruit Sub-Committee recommends attention to the possibility of bulk purchasing and the formation of a purchasing organisation to negotiate long-term contracts, with guarantees against dumping. Probable the most concise section of the whole report is of sixteen words, merely recording that it received the Empire Press Union’s recommendation with relation to cheaper press cables and wireless. What New Zealand Wants. The Bon. G. W. Forbes, inten lowed, said that good undoubtedly came out of the Conference, if only for the frank exchange of opinions and the personal contacts. New Zealand had been chiefly concerned on the economic side of the Conference. “Our tics to the Motherland do not require strengthening and safeguarding, but wc would liked to have come closer regarding mutual trade. Britain is our chief market, but we sec it lying open to countries in which the standard of living is much below New Zealand’s, as for instance, Russia, which is devoting herself to the exploitation of the British market. Our share of the market, is jeopardised. We would have liked a practical safeguard re-assuring us of the future. We arc striving to increase our purchases from Britain, but find that foreigners are largely reaping the harvest, reducing the amount of money we can spend on British manufactures.”

“Nevertheless, we have not lost heart and shall continue to od our best, depending on the outasanding quality of

our goods and hoping that the sentimental preference for Empire goods will strengthen and increase. Our production is rapidly increasing, and we feel it equally important for Britain and ourselves that our future market should continue here. The Empire has the resources to overcome the present economic difficulties and depressions if it shows the same unity as it showed in the war. At the same time we recognise Britain’s right to decide her own policy, and do not complain that the British Government found it impossible to depart from free trade. It will not cause any difference in our policy to Britain. We shall maintain and strengthen the existing sentiment and .do our utmost in favour of buying British goods. I feel sure that this represents the sentiments of the whole of New Zealand.”

DID NOT EXPECT MUCH THEREFORE NOT DISAPPOINTED Received Nov. 16, 8.15 p.mLONDON, Nov. 15At the Imperial Conference Air MeGilligan said: ‘‘lt will be for„us to determine, as we sec the results of the conference, whether the extent of ouz willingness to co-operate will be, as 1 expressed last year, somewhat weakened. Much may happen between now and the Ottawa conference. If we theu have to view these matters somewhat aloofly and dctaclicdh* wc, nevertheless, will look to see whether the climatic conditions reconcile the many views in this climate, which appear so irreconcilable.

General Hertzog said: “It would perhaps be insincere to pretend that the conference has borne the fruit that wc and the other Dominions hoped. I ami my colleagues came knowing what wc must find out. Our expectations du' not run over high and therefore wc are not greatly disappointed,”