OTTAWA MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1932, Page 5

OTTAWA MEETING

CRITICAL STAGE BRITISH DELEGATES’ ATTITUDE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) "'OTTAWA, July £6. J ' The influential newspap.r,. tlje‘“AiontVca'l Gazette,” ; comments in "air editorial, upon the‘ despatc hes which have i ibeen .sent fromi‘Uttaiva l.y”fej. newsi paper c'orregpond'fihts. The ‘“’Gazfette.” Y says: .“Thle Imiper-itefEfebnoiSic'-'Confer-erieehas'at thlevleryfibutset Jifiabhed a ( , -cintical stage, corres- , pendents, natura'Ly and -prop, fly, are painting the picture in the softest colours, but it is becoming evident that if the Ottawa Conference is to overcome the obstacles that have already encountered, then tome of 'the viewpoints .that l have been expressed,' muA undergo a radical modification.” ‘lt continues: “If the complications

. which have arisen, are as formidable as some;;pf thla-despatches imply, then i the,co-operative spirit.seems c.rt-in to . undergo a .much more severe tcet than '! ' .was contemplated when .the Conference opened. .. .There ia/an uncertainty which ■ surrounds the,.attitude. of the British delegation.. This nppears to be hampering ..th's . qftod to be creating a situation for which the word ‘critical, ’ is not too ; strong.” : All of the-delegations .consider that thle foregoing obs.rvations of the Montreal “Gazette” are far from' fact, and stating that .the Conffertince is now getting to. .grips with the vital business, and that it is in perfect harmony. . . ,1 EMPIRE MEAT PROBLEM. • • 'v s ', ‘ y ) ■ THE DOMINIONS 'CONCERNED. '/' ; : ‘ ■■ OTTAWA, July 26. Mr Bruce, presided at the, meeting; of the meat representatives of all Dominions. The question whether the British meat and agricultural interests should be represented had been discussed in view of the great importance ,/i to British farmers and .meat prcducJ ers of any Control of imported meat. It was decided, however, that the Eng- '} liehmen should not be invited because . . that would possibly lembarrass the Britff'ih Government when eventually reaching a decision. Canada'indicated that she was in-

teracted in baloon and cattle on the / hoof. ’ Canada is the only Dominion } able to send irv'ld lour d bacon to Britain, because, the rd>lem of carry- / ing across the Tropics has not beten

solved. : Australia, however, is keenly

interested 'in raising bacon prices from V* the present 55s to 755; to BCS). She lb-in • export' frozen "pig carcases fit a| ;: profitable price, enabling British curing > factories to recommence operations.

Australia and New Zealand are the only., Dfifninions vitally interested in mutton "and lamb. ' Australia’s/ greatest'interest is in beef. South Africa’s new extraordinary keen inter;ist in hi ref - is. the outstanding feature. The Australians have been lengthily in communication with British agricultural interests, recognising, in them a i strong ally, inasmuch, as they supply

half Britain's beef requirements, also H|| substantial proportions* cf bacon? and -C lambs. They are closely following the possibility of a quota upon foreign importations.

CANADA AND TARIFF WALLS

BRITAIN'S STAND UNDISCLOSED

One Ottawa despatch, regarded regretfully by. the Britishsrs, stated:~ “Although Britain has not yet disclosed her hand, .she in expected to show . Reluctance .toj.go as far as Canada wishes in ..preserving, net heightening, the tariff -walls, against foreigners, particularly, the , United, States’ ’ adding that Canada was'afeq concerned, as beQieving Britain averse to lessening British purchases in Russia, Argentine and Denmark, this attiture may prove a real stumbling block to the confere ’ce.” ‘ is learned on tble highest authority that' the Britishers have not yet reached a final decision on any of these major questions, coming before ■ the conference. Some Canadian newspapirs comment inaccurately that the British • delegation is divided between, free 1 trade and ’ "protection, wlpreis the fun da mental object of the conference is td readjust th/j preference. “They describe' Mr Runciman as still an ardent free trader, Mr Baldwin as lean-ing-in "that direction, while Mr Chamberlain is >a ,stalwart champion of his illustrious father's pclicy^’. Thert v is considerable 'ksf/ecblntion Its to. the*extent of the concession Canada give the British taaniifa'timers, v increasing importance is attached 'to P iyf r - Bennett’s op/fung statement, '/ “ThosS Gahadian indfotrios which havie now reached maturity under protective tariff,- 'end competing in the world’s markets'must «uppl4t- the. adjustments with Britain, because of the great advantages ■ obtainable for exporters of natural products.” Mr Bennett has already emerged as Canada's strong man. and .in, view of this unequivocal statement, it is expected that lio will succeed in convincing tire secondary .industries th y must ’-e satisfied with OsTnnl,ler measure of protection. /.-'''"(Canada’s position, regarding wheat is not, yet finalised;. Partners, following the action of their wheat pod ,n holding stocks of 1929.' with dinastrous results; have constantly u-gd preference plus , quota, against foreign wheat. There now appears to have

b-.en a last minute change in the farmers’ attitude, bringing them into line with Australia’a views, although, 'they .are definitely not influenced by' the Australians here. The farmers, realise in view cf the fact that Canada, and Australian produce ‘double the quantity of wheat Britain imports, it is almost impossible to devise a help-, fill scheme. Mr Bennett, however has 1 pledged himso’f to support the Cainad-, ian farmers and will ©till discuss with the conference. whether Canadian, wheat can be assisted. Nevertheless,, the most likely sequel is that Canada?, will be content to range? herself with. Australia, urging Britain to fhow/ a more favourable purchasing attitude to Canadian and Australian, than to> Russian wheat. LOAN CONVERSION AND n!z. MAY HAVE IMPORTANT BEARING (Received this dav at 9.30 a.m.) OTTAWA, July 27. The Hon. J. G. Coates has expressed the opinion that England’s successful £2,000,000 loan conversion mayhave an important hearing on New, Zealand’s external interest charges. New Zealand owes Britain £24,000,000 representing five per cent. funded war debt. Mr Coates considers that there is a prospect of reducing this to the same three and a-half per • cent as the British conversion loan. The presence of ,Mr N. Chamberlain at Ottawa happily provides a favourable opportunity of *; discussing the matter. . • Mr Coates will bring up at the Conference the question of unemployment, with a view to establishing a committee of experts lio investigate relief systems operating throughout the Empire. collaring any information likely to be valuab'e.