OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1932, Page 3

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

A DEFINITE POLICY. PREPARATION PUT IN HAND. WELLINGTON; February 26. The setting up of a special Cabinet Committee to prepare the outline of the policy for submission at the Imperial Economic Conference, to be held at Ottawa next July, was announced by the Prime Minister, Rt. ! Hon. G. W. Forbes, in a statement. He gave an assurance that steps were already being taken to prepare New Zealand’s case for presentation to I the conference, and that a definite I and progressive policy would be drawn j up in ample time. J Mr Forbes said he had noticed in I the Press an evident impression in some quarters that the Government j was not taking in hand the work inj volved with sufficient vigour. “This,” he stated, “is quite contrary ,to fact. ■ Indeed, ever since the return of the Hon. W. Downie Stewart from Honolulu the Customs Department has, on his intsructions, been engaged in assembling all available information within its sphere which has any bearing on the problems to be discussed. | “This wdrk is well in band and will he ready for review by Cabinet at an 1 early date. Consideration has also been given to the extent and economic effects of the preferences which Have already been granted both in New Zealand and in other parts of the British Empire to the possibility of extending further assistance to Em- ! pire industries by Custom,s tariffs and otherwise, and to many other aspects of the economic problem, j “The matters under investigation have necessitated inquires not only in • the Dominion but abroad. It will be obvious that the assembling of the necessary data must take some time, but the Government will at an early date be in a position to make a general survey of the whole position. ; “As an integral portion of the Govi ernment’s intentions the chambers of commerce, the Manufacturers’ Associa- ( tion, the Farmers’ Union, the various 1 control boards and any other bodies, a,s well as members of the public, will. 1 be invited to make any representations or suggestions that may occur to them, and the fullest possible consideration will be given to every aspect of the problems to be solved. The Government fully recognises the importance of the conference and will leave no ; stone unturned to collect all necessary I information and to formulate a de--1 finite and progressive policy. “For this purpose a Cabinet committee consisting of the Prime Mini- ! ster, the Rt. Hon J. G. Coates, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart and the Hon. B. Masters has been set up, and this committee will be charged with the responsiblitv of sifting all available information and preparing for Cabinet consideration an . outline of the policy, that will best meet the ( needs of New Zealand, having regard to the wider interests of inter Imperial. trade. ■ “The Government is already in consultation with his Majesty’s Trade Commissioner in Wellington in connection with tariff matters, while in London the High Commissioner is in touch with the British Government.

“Up to the present no definite agenda has been set out for the conference, but it may he assumed with confidence that the principal subject for consideration will be that of tariffs. The public may rely upon it that the New Zealnd Government will be entirely ready for the conference, and that the greatest care will be observed in providng for the due representation of this Dominion, with a constructive policy based on fully and carefully prepared data.”