OTTAWA MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1932, Page 5

OTTAWA MEETING

DELEGATES ARRIVE NEGOTIATIONS OPEN TO-MORROW (United Press Association—By Electric au.egrupn—Copyright.) QUEBEC', July 18. ' Official greetings of the ue.egafos were made by Lommioii, provincial and municipal officnus. Thousands of people lined the culf behind the doc,K } . sounding a. rqyal welcome: The heads of a.l the- delegations expressed hopes lor tne siiecus3 of the Conference! i

-ua* Beuneitt has telegraphed that lie will welcome the Australian and New Zealand delegations who are arriv *,g at Ottawa at noon to-morroiv (Tuesday).

Tlio Brit.shj South African, Ulster and Rhodesian delegations are reaching Ottawa a few hours earlier,... The Canadian delegates are already assembled. The. Irish Free State representatives were the l first on the spot. Their status is still in doubt in view of the failure of -Via* de Valera's negotiations with Mr MacDonald.

The major contingent of the delegates to the Imperial Conference reach Ottawa on Tuesday morning. They will ibid met -by the 'Canadian Premier, Mir Bennett, members of the Cabinet, and other high personages. The Irish Free State delegates paid a formal cal] on the Premier, Mr Bennett, and were shown over the Parliament Buildings. The Economic Conference will open in the House of Commons Chamber on , Thursday. DEROGATORY REFERENCE TO N.Z. . f MR COATES IN DEFENCE. OTTAWA, July 18. The New Zealand Delegation to the Ottawa Conference have been pained at the derogatory references to their country which are being* made in the Canadian newspapers. Mr Coates has issued a statement to the* Canadian press depreciating the Canadian suggestion “that New Zealand’s chief industries are unemployment riots and financial extravagancy I” ' ’, • ' ■ Mr Coates said that the unemployment in New Zealand is unavoidable. In view of the condition of the world’s j markets, even .-.a'stable country like New Zealand could not escape.

Mr Coates stated that the entire damage, done in the New Zealand riots fdid-.jiot, exceed fifteen ...tKovuSand Sterling. 1 ; * ’■ • . ‘'' He said New Zealand is undoubtedly facing financial stringency, but she had wisely accumulated reserves sufficient to tide her over her crisis. The estimated deficit was only two million sterling; There were only four occasions. in the past forty years when .New Zealand had had a deficit. New Zealand, said Mr Coates, might be considered' a comparatively small and unimportant Dominion, but i she had no small opinion of herself so far as a determination to co-operate with other parts of the Empire was concerned. FOREIGN MEAT QUESTION. LONDON, July 19. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent on board the “Empress ofBritain,” has-sent a wireless message to the effect that the Bi'itish delegation, recognises that meat will 'be one of the, outstanding features at the Cc aference. To this commodity long discussions, have been devoted on board the' liner. The British policy is dependent on the Dominions' proposals, but it is dear that the idea of putt.ng taxes ou foreign meat has not been excluded. The meat question probably .will be linked with the use of the quota, and also the restriction of the output as the solo means of raising the meat grow-

ers’ prices.

BRITISH PREMIER’S HOPE.

QUEBEC, July -18

The leader of the British Delegation. Mr ,S. Baldwin, sees in the Ottawa Conference- double oppoitunity. In a statement on his arrival here tonight, he spoke first of there being an opportunity at Ottawa to make trade agreements, and thus promote the well-being of every unit of the Empire. That was a cause which, tor its own sake, lay close to all hearts. But there was another opportunity. “We believe,” he said, “that, by the methods we adopt, we can set an example to the whole world in breaking down obstacles to commerce, and in aiding a revival of agriculture, industry and trade, and, so bring the peoples safely through the tragic depression of recent times.” Mr Baldwin expressed pleasure that the delegations were in Canada ontheir way to “what- wo hope and believe will be one of the most momentous gatherings in the history of the British Empire.” Hekadded that the fact that so many from the United Kingdom had come to Canada was an evidence of the importance that all in Great Britain attached to the Conference. DELEGATES ARRIVE. WELCOMED AT STATION. (Received this day at 9.3o*rrfn.) OTTAWA, July 1 9 - Conference delegates from Britain. India, South Africa, Rhodesia, and

Northern Irelnnd arrived this morning. Practically all members of the Cabinet Were at the station, Mr Bo.nndt boarding the train to speak v'th Mr Baldwin. Tlho station meeting was informal, the delegations proceeding through a smiling, dapping crowd to their hotel. >