OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18653, 3 June 1932, Page 7

OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

POSITION OF FREE STATE. MR THOMAS’ STATEMENT. NO PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received June 3, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 2. In the House of Commons Mr J. 11. Thomas, Secretary of State for -he Dominions, informed Mr G. Mander (National Liberal, Wolverhampton) that there had been no preliminary discussions regarding the Ottawa Conference with the Irish Free State. Mr J. Maxton (Labour, Bridgeton, Glasgow): Why has the Free State been excluded? , , .. . Mr Thomas: Because we feel that no purpose can be served in negotiating with a people till they show they are ready to observe agreements. The Free State doubtless will attend the Ottawa Conference if Canada invites them. I have not the remotest idea as to what will happen at the conference as far as the Irish Free Stale is concerned. MR HOLLAND’S CRITICISM. NO LABOUR REPRESENTATION. MINISTERS NEEDED AT HOME. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Interviewed at Wellington, Mr IL E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, said that on April 11, after the matter had been discussed at a Labour Party caucus, he wrote to the Prime Minister inquiring whether the Government would consider a proposal for the representation of the Opposition on the delegation to the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa. He then pointed out that the conference decisions would considerably affect for good or ill the interests of every section of the community, and stated* that the Labour Party felt that ‘the presence of representatives from both sides of the House would materially strengthen New Zealand’s position. On April 13 a reply was received from the Prime Minister, who promised to have the matter considered by the Government. The Cabinet took six weeks to come to a decision, and the final reply was made by telegram on May 28, when the Prime Minister pointed out that the responsibility in connection with Ottawa was properly one for Ministers of the Crown, and the Government regretted that it was unable to see its way to depart from that principle. “This means,” said Mr Holland, “that while all the various political elements supporting the Coalition will be represented at Ottawa the 250,000 people who supported the Labour Party on December 2 will have no representation whatever. Moreover, the official advisers to the three Cabinet Ministers, apart from the departmental officers, would consist of representatives of the employers in the meat producing, dairying, fruitgrowing, general farming and manufacturing industries, hut the thousands of wage workers in those industries would not be permitted to have representation, even in an advisory capacity. The drawing of party, political, or class lines In connection with representation at such a conference was no method that would commend itself to the community in general. Unqualified Disapproval. Mr Holland expressed unqualified disapproval of the decision to send the three leading members of the Cabinet to the conference. If, as the Prime Minister had said, the Government had fully considered the attitude to be assumed by its representatives at Ottawa it should be possible for any one Minister to put forward the proposals agreed upon. If a member of the Opposition had been permitted to take part in the conference he would have been in a position to make definite proposals for the Improvement of the trading relationships of the different countries of the British Commonwealth. He further said that in his opinion no amount of tariff tinkering, one way or the other, would bring relief to New Zealand or any of the other countries concerned. Nothing short of a thoroughly businesslike arrangement, Based on definite trade agreements, would prove satisfactory. In any case, even if the best possible arrangement should be made, it would be some considerable time before any marked beneficial effects would be felt, and it was imperative that attention should be concentrated on the grave local problems growing out of unemployment in New Zealand. With nearly 60,000 adult males on the out-of-work register, and with hunger and want In thousands of homes, the situation was hourly becoming more orltloal, and It would be worse than a calamity if the unemployed should find themselves In the position of beingtold that no effective remedial steps could he taken in their cases until the return of the leaders of the Government. Difficulties Could Be Overcome. lie insisted that the natural resources of the Dominion were now adequate to provide abundance of life's necessaries, and that, given a wise vision, with organised production and each nation of the Commonwealth working in co-operation, there was no reason why the existing difficulties should not be steadily overcome.