OTTAWA AGREEMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18777, 27 October 1932, Page 7

OTTAWA AGREEMENTS

SECOND READING OF BILL

MR. THOMAS’ SPEECH. REPLY TO OPPOSITION, (Official wireless.) (Received Oot. 27, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 26. In moving the second reading of thS Ottawa Agreements Bill in the House of Commons, Mr J. H. Thomas (Secretary of State for the Dominions) said the Opposition argument that nothing was done by the agreements to ease the unemployment situation was answered in the steel industry indirectly, and the coal trade direotly. He asked the Labour Party to consider the future position of unemployment unless the Dominions were placed In a posiHtion to deal with would be done to P The British J. H. Thomas, delegates had > d e libera tely agreed to the scheme of meat restrictions as a means for increasing wholesale prices. Unless there was such an increase there was no possible hope ■for producers. Regarding Russia, the British delegates had undertaken that If any nation by any particular action prevented the value of preference being enjoyed by the Dominions, the necessary steps would be taken to give effect to the Intentions of the British Government. The Minister deplored that the Irish Free State, by her ,own action, was depriving herself of the. benefits of the Ottawa agreements. He expressed the Government’s hope that this would only be temporary. There were again sharp fluctuations in the exchange rate to-day; although the tone of the market was reported steadier. ...

OTTAWA A COMMENCEMENT* A LEAD TO' THE WORLD. CONTRIBUTION TO RECOVERY. (Received Oct. 27, 12.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Oot. 26. Referring to the argument adduced during the debate on the Ottawa Conference .that the tariff agreements there reached between the nations of the British Empire might Impede the conclusion of more general agreements for the restoration of world trade, the Times says:— '‘The commonsense view is that nothing would ever be done to revive trade if it had to wait upon a world-wide agreement. A beginning had to be made, and no better beginning could ’be made than between the members of the British Commonwealth. They cannot even if they would, be 'an exclusive cor-*, p.oration, but a solid quarter of the population of the world can make a powerful contribution to the ra» covery of the whole.”

LABOUR OPPOSITION. AGREEMENTS CONDEMNED. ' United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received Oct, 27, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oot. 26. The Trades Union'Congress passed a resolution condemning the Ottaw% agreements. COMMONSENSE SHOWN. DISCREDITABLE INSINUATION. United Press ASsn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Oct. 25. The Times in an editorial article emphasises the fact that in spite of criticisms, there is general agreement that the Ottawa pacts make possible the arrest of the tendenoy toward eeonomio nationalism and high tariffs and the establishment of the opposite trend. “ Ottawa Is an Illuminating accompaniment to the criticism of English free traders who endeavour to insinuate that the Dominions have no intention of maintaining good faith,” says the Times. " This insinuation only discredits its makers.” The commonsense shown by Australia and New Zealand in accepting equitable reciprocity is eulogised by the writer. MONTREAL, Oct. 25. “ The future attitude in Britain toward the Ottawa trade agreement depends to a great extent upon the operation of the Canadian Tariff Board,” said the Marquess of Reading, who passed through .Montreal to-day. Ha is on the way to Ottawa to discuss this and allied subjects with the Prima Minister, -Mr. R. B. Bennett.