DOMINION POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1932, Page 5

DOMINION POLICY

FOB OTTAWA STATEMENT BY MR COATES. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, June 24. Mr Forbes issued ' the following statement on the Ottawa Conference-to-night : The ideal of strengthening the Empire haw been the foremost aim of leaders of public thought in ail parts of our Empire. It is an ideal that depends for its strength, in the main, on sentiment; on ties of kinship, common institutions and a common conception of justice and government. Supplementing these is the knowledge that material interests of peoples in constituent parts of the Empire are best served by their standing together in making reciprocal concessions in matters of trade policy. It is in recognition of these facts that we approach the Imperial Economic Conference of 1932, Matters which, as announced to date, are to be discussed during the forthcoming Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa have been under detailed study by a committee of the Cabinet, and have had extended con* sidfiration by Cabinet.

“Very briefly, the New Zealand at* littide i« based cm a belief that constituent members of tho British Commonwealth of Nations can make arrangements in trade and other economic affairs which will be to the material advantage of ail, and that the severity of this present depression renlers it a matter of first urgency that advantage be taken of these possibilities. Since the Imperial Conference of 1930 adjourned with an understanding that it should resume in Ottawa, changes of great moment have taken place in the economic and financial situation. Britain has imposed duties on certain of .the products of foreign countries, including butter, cheese, fruit, flax and tallow, and has withheld the imposition of these duties on Dominion products until November 15 of this yeai. This grant- of tariff preference, temporary though it is, opens up new and valuable prospects for exporting countries within the Empire.

“Since the 1930 conference, too, and by reason of the acute financial depression, currency questions have assumed outstanding importance. “The agenda for the Ottawa Conference covers a wide range—though confined to economic and related problems—trade and tariff policies, both within the. Empire and between .constituent parts of the Empire and foreign countries; transport ahd communications, Including shipping, postal, cable, wireless and broadcasting; monetary and financial questions, with (lie restoration and stabilisation of a satisfactory general price level. From this summary, it will be 'seen that the deliberations .of the Conference are charged with the highest importance for New Zealand.

“It seems dear that the reason for the concession of the Imperial i u liiunent in witholding its duties on the Dominion products referred to, was to afford an opportunity for discussing tile matter with the Dominion | Governments with a view to the fur- ! ther development of inter-imperial •I trade. Therefore, the Ottawa Conference will be concerned with exploring j methods for enabling increased quan- ! titles of Empire goods to he used to supply the British market, and, on the ; other hand, for further facilities to he i afforded for Britain’s goods to enter I the Dominions’ markets. For this purpose, the New Zealand Government has collected full information from | exporting interests in New Zealand | as to various ways in which they present share of the British market can be conserved, and extended. There are, of course, several methods by ! which they can he done, if acceptable to Britain. Among these are the maintenance and extensoin of preferences at present granted by Britain, ! and a further opening of the United I Kingdom market by the regularity of I the importation of foreign products.

“The export trade of New Zealand with other Dominions ia likewise & very important matter for this country and tire Conference will afford an opportunity of reviewing and discussing our mutual commercial relations, and as far as Great Britain is concerned it is clear that if the Imperial Governments are to grant further facilities for the encouragement of New Zealand and other Dominions’ trade bv way of tariff changes, or other means, reciprocal advantages must l»e accorded by tire Dominions to the exports from the United Kingdom. New Zealand has already gone a very long wav in that direction by granting tariff preferences to the United Kingdom and other parts of the Empire. The Government, however, are satisfied that there still remains a relat-

ively large field for eernemic 00-oner-aGon. and they think that concessions which lliev are able will he flick"'t to •'! New Zealand in a tiled favon’cible situation disibe matter with the imperial eMiliontitv*. The view “f the New Zealand G< vonnnont is that the Dili wn CYml'ermiee should he approached a spirit of mutual co-operation, and not from tlm -point of view of mere bargain in"- or the fine balancing of (lie advantages that van he accorded |,v cm, unit of the Empire to Another. ‘ “Willi regard to currency matters it reerttn vised that- the problem of IIOW to raise tlve price level to a point