OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1932, Page 3

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

DOIMIMOVS PART. PREPARATIONS MADE BY GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph —ter l J ress Association ) WELLINGTON, February 24. Interviewed to-day with reference to the preparations being made in the Dominion for the coming Imperial 'Economic Conference at Ottawa, Mr Forbes stated that ever since the return of the Hon. W. Downie Stewart from Honolulu the Customs Department has, on his instructions, been engaged in assembling all available information with-, in its, sphere which has any bearing on the problems to be discussed. Ihe work is well in hand and will be ready for review by Cabinet at an early date. The Government fully recognises ’the importance of the conference and will leave no stone unturned to collect all necessary information and to formulate a definite, progressive policy. For this purpose a Cabinet committee consisting of the Prime Minister, Mr Coates, IMr 'Stewart and Mr Masters has been set up, and this committee will be charged with the responsibility of sifting all available information and preparing for 'Cabinet consideration an , outline of the policy that will best i meet the needs of New Zealand, having regard to the wider interests of interimperial trade. The Government already is ian consultation with his Majesty’s Trade Commissioner in Wellington in connection with tariff matters, while in London Lie ’High ’Commissioner .i's in’ touch with the British Government.