OTTAWA MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1932, Page 2

OTTAWA MEETING

FOREGATHERING OF DELEGATES

MANY SOCIAL FUNCTIONS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

OTTAWA, July 20

The arrival of the British, Indian, /Ulster, South African, and Rhodesian delegations 011 hoard the world’s greatest liner, the Canadian Pacific “Empress 0. Britain” has completed the Ottawa Conference personnel. The British delegates, despite a dismal, cold crossing, dodging icebergs and fog, which caused a collision with a cargo steamer in the St. . Lawrence river, also a slight fusehox fire during a concert on hoard, landed with expressions of keeness for mutual co-operation. This led Mr Coates (N.Z.) to say tonight, after meeting old friends in .Messrs N. Chamberlain, Lister anci J, H. Thomas: “I have always been thoroughly optimistic, but the position is better than L thought.”

Mr Baldwin’s simile of the “cricket team” was in the happiest vein. Ho added earnestly: ‘“lt is not a question j of whether individuals or nations'come ] out with particular credit. The British delegation js proud to. deliberate under the. presidency of Mr Bennett, for whom 1 have a great regard, He is in every way qualified to conduct such a vital conference.” ■ / j Mr Thomas said: “The- Dominions, know nothing about depression whan they nro compared with Britain. If tie .work together, there will be no ques-; fion of Canada, ay Australia, or New Zealand claiming a victory. It Will | ,only be a real victory if it is a victory for the Empire as a whole.” . j The Australian delegates have been reinforced by two overseas trade offi- j cers, Mr MacDougall (London) and. Mr Macgregor (Toronto). |

Mr Collins (Toronto) has joined the New Zealanders

Messrs Knox/ (Victoria), Laeffer, Wine, and Sir Newton Moore greeted Mr Bruce.

Although the delegatess have hardly had time to get their bearings* they are faced with seemingly endless social engagements, banquets, dances, garden parties, and a visit to. the Welland Ship Canal,, near Niagara. This canal is part of a great deep water canal scheme costing the United States, fifty millions. It is to enable ships to, ascend the St. Lawrence Riv-jy to the Great Lakes, and to load'grain’ at Fort William. ..

The secrecy with which Mr Bennett concluded this agreement with the United States is regarded as a gesture that he is determined to be the “strong ’ man” of the... Conference, and eager to assist, fanners who are ( prepared to,.make, concessions, in . . Britain’s favour for her,, manufactures.

MR BALDWIN INTERVIEWED.

DREADS TO THINK OF FAILURE.

OTTAWA, July 19

Mr Bruce, interviewed, said lie was going in the thick of the fray, iinpressed that everybody was approaching the conference in the sajne spirit as Australia’s. “While we hope to help ourselves, we are actuated by the necessity for doing .something to help the rest of the Empire and the world. Compared with the previous conference, there is to-day, a sterner 4 e t o,v mination for real results, giving a lead, which may bring .international action lightening the depression.” He is deeply gratified with the British delegation’s determination that something must be accomplished. Ho had. a long friendly discussion witii All- Bennett and Mr Baldwin. “The Economic Conference must he far above all parties and personalities,” Mr Stanley' Baldwin said. “A real conference may be a ‘step up’ for the whole world.” *

He continued: “I dread to think wliat a. failure would mean to the Empire.”

RUSSIAN WHEAT IMPORTS

NO EMBARGO ENFORCED

OTTAWA, July 19. Although the Australian ’ Ministers have repeatedly expressed the view that there is little prospect of doing anything at the Ottawa Conference regarding the trade in wheat, in view of the fact that both Canada and Australia produce double the amount of the British wheat imports, and though Mr Bruce, when questioned by Canadian pressmen to-day, admitted that nobody has yet supplied any solution, it is learned that Australia, during the past few months, has been in constant communication with the British Government. Australia has been urging a British embargo on Russian wheat imports.

.Britain, however, has argued that if slle refused to admit Russian wheat, that wheat would simply reach another market.

Australia contended that this argument is unsound, because Britain constitutes Russia’s only ready market, inasmuch as Russia, could find storage and finance for her wheat cargoes m the British ports, and would do this nowhere else. Moreover, the European countries have imposed prohibitive duties against wheat. AustrMin is not not vet aware whether Britain is convinced, hut she believes that a strong impression has been made. Canada is actively backing the Australian proposal.

CERTAIN AGREEMENT REACHED

EMPIRE MEAT QUESTIOKI.

LONDON, July 20

The “Daily Telegraph's” Ottawa representative • gathers that certain agreements have already been reached affecting trade between Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and will bo announced early in the proceedings. The correspondent adds: “Since raising the price of meat and also restricting the output of 'meat is the only means of helping the stock breeders in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Britain, the British Ministers are considering carefully any political reactions at Home to a meat duty. It is expected that it will oe recognised that the retail prices in Britain may rise before any compensating advantages become apparent.

BRITISH STOCK RAISES.

HOPE TO GAIN BY TAX.

LONDON, July 20,

The prospect of a tax on foreign meat has aroused the keenest interest One farmer, who is a big provider for the London market, says that it is essential that the Government shall place three millions sterling at the disposal of the farmers to buy a, foundation of breeding stock and store stock. For a breeding system, borrowing, with repayment on sales, will be necessary. The National Federation of Meat Traders’ Association? met and decided that a tariff on meat was preferable to a quota.