WORK OF IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1930, Page 7

WORK OF IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

THE AGENDA. PRIME MINISTER MAKES STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, July 31. Te Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Hprbes, made a statement to the House of Representatives this afternoon on the subject of the Imperial Conference. He said that a tentative agenda had been decided upon, and the subjects to be considered fell under the following heads:—(l) Inter-Imperial relations; (2) foreign policy and defence; (3) economic questions.

Air Forbes stated that as regards In-ter-Imperial relations particular questions for consideration would be the recommendations of the recent Conference on the Operation of Dominion Legislation, including certain matters expressly mentioned in the report of that conference as requiring further examination, namely nationality and the suggested tribunal for the determination of inter-imperial disputes, also other matters of a constitutional character cognate to and arising from those discussed in the report of the Inter-Imperial Relations Committee of

the conference of 1926, Under the head of Nationality the special question of the position of married women would be included, : As regards foreign policy and defence the agenda would cover the further i development of a peace and arbitration policy. This heading would include the questions of reduction and limitation of armaments, together with any specific subjects connected with foreign policy'which might require examination and the various aspects of defence, j On the economic side the following would be the main headings: (a) The i general question of the trade of the Empire, including capital investments | and the establishment of branch indusI tries-' the effect of successive tariff changes and the extent and the effect j of inter-imperial tariff preferences, and ! also of other factors ,sucji as cartels, etc.; (b) bulk purchases and price stabilisation ; (c) development of interimperial trade by trade commissioner services, exhibitions and general publicity ; (d) overseas settlement; • (e) past and future work of the Imperial Economic Committee, Empire Marketing. Board and Imperial Institute; (f) the question of co-operation in agricultural research (including cotton growing), forestry and mineral; (g) speoial meeting of experts on industrial research and standardisation; (h) transport and communications, including a review of the work of the Imperial Shipping Committee and Overseas Mechanical Transport Council, survey of steamship services, development of civil aviation, cable, radio, broadcasting, postal and news services. Under this heading would come also the question of the proposed agreements relating to the merchant shipping legislation recommended in the report of the Conference on the operation of Dominion Legislation, DAY FOR DISCUSSION, The Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister whether he would set aside a day to discuss questions that would arise at the conference, and whether he would submit a subsidiary report indicating the Government’.3 views on them. While he realised that there were some subjects which could not. be discussed without ft breach of confidence there were other questions which had already been quite freely debated in other dominion Governments. The Hon G. W. Forbes said he would set aside a day for discussion of the questions as soon ns possible. He would see what could be done in the way of meeting the other request made by Mr Coates.