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Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1932, Page 4

Tiibuk is every indication that the Ottawa Conference in duly is going to bo conducted with all sincerity. The British Parliament delegation is going to be as influential as it could Tie possible. The official representatives of Great Britain will bo Mr J. H TlioniMH, Sir 11.l 1 . Cunlifle-Lester, Hon. W. Rvineiman and the Minister of Agriculture. Others to attend include Air Stanley Baldwin, Air Neville Chamberlain and Lord Hailsham. All the important sections: cf the Ministry bearino on colonial government, aro thus represented. This fact suggests Groat Britain is in real earnest about closer inter-Empire trade relatione. The fact that Britain has just crossed the rubicon and left the Free Trade policy behind, suggests that the most is to he made of a Protection policy. The presence of Air Chamberlain is narticuhuly promising, for he was the medium through whom tee recent customs tariff was brought to pass. Also, as the son of the great Joseph Chamberlain wllo in the later years of his very active political life made Empire trildirig it very prominent phlnk in his political creed, there is tv mnhtle oh Afr Neville Chamberlain which will give prominence to his appearance at the Conference. New Zealand k making its arrangements with care for the Conference, and very properly will be well and strongly represented. Parliament is likely to be out of 'session at the time, and it, is not un’ikely that throe or four Alini-ters will be able to attend. They will ho supnorted by the best advisory reprise,nttvion possible, and should he in a position to watch Dominion interests very carefully. The occasion is pregnant with possibilities as regard Empire Hading. This idicu'd lie helpful to New Zealand. In the first place, the Homo market is of special importance to our producers, and anything that can be done to improve that objective will be in the interest's of New Zealand sales. New Zealand would welcome better trading conditions with Canada, 'South Africa, Australia and other parts of the Empire, and if the trade can he put on a proper footing no doubt it will prove of mutual advantage all round. The otnee is being well set for a very useful and promising conference.