WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1932, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

EMPIRE ECONOMICS. DIFFICULTIES IN WAY. (From a Corresponuent). WELLINGTON, July 27. The' aspirations of the commercial representatives who accompanied the New Zealand delegates to the Ottawa Conference do not iseem likely to realise at once their fruition. The “Manchester Guardian,” which still sways a great part of the public opinion in the Midlands of the Mother Country, offers them no encouragement. “Mr Bruce,” it says, referring to the leader of the Australian delegation, “is even more explicit than Mr Bennett to insist on British food taxes ais the price of more advantageous preferences for British exports. New Zealand is also, delightfullyfrank in suggesting a reduction, in the, rates on British« goods .where with increased foreign duties. South Africa mak-es no bones about the sort of British food taxes she would like. . .

There is not much in all this to inspire ,us. with a hope of miraculous resists -from the Conference.” Here, obviously, is a problem for -Mr David Jones, the chairman of the committee waiting upon the New Zealand delegation, to solve.

BRITAIN’S OBLIGATION. Nor is this the only obstacle of grav e , difficulty standing .in the. ■ way of the i Dominion’s -aspirations. Mr ...Neville;] Chamberlain,, the British Chancellor of the -Exchequer, has indicated tha(., Britain, despite strong Australian representations, could not take action against the Soviet dumping of wheat and timber. Britain’s decision in this respect, It is' said, is due to the fact that Russia owes her huge sums of money for manufactures bought from her and that this immense debt wouldnot be paid if Britain barred Russian products from its ports. It is said also that Australia for seven months or more has been urging Britain to prohibit Soviet dumping and that -the, Commonwealth -still is hoping to obtain concessions towards that end. Mean—while the -bread eaters of New Zealand-, may be - wondering how they come to, he paying more for the “staff of life’..than are the peoples of any other, country in the world-. It' is a problem , for solution by the politicians.

AMERICA’S VIEWS,

Th e American correspondents, obtaining such information as they can concerning the progress of the Ottawa Conference, apparently are not greatly impressed by the -proceedings. “The dominions in the aggregate,” one ot them says, and apparently, .quite trniy, “want more than Britain could possibly give them, no matter how .she might sacrifice herself. Therefore the Dom--inion’s rivalry about getting , into- the. British market, which is not big enough to satisfy them .all, is bound to supersede the present . show of unity.” petition from ’ Australia, * -aiidther respondent" declafe i i,f' ( offer nig comfort -d BueppS Aires,' -“ia imt considered ‘sOrio.us because- the- distance v from London allows the shipment of only frozen beef, while British consumers prefer chilled beef. 'This preference has. been the predominating factor in -the constant improvement of Argentina's cattle supply for-the British trade.” This authority does not so much ais mention New Zealand or its products, but it gives South -Africa to understand that its meats must be vastly, improved before they can satisfy th 6 markets of the world. ,

NEW ZEALAND'S REPRESENTATION;

New Zealand generally will be gad to .learn that Mr Downie Stewart, the Minister fof finance when at home, has 'been appointed chairman of the Customs Administration .Committee at the Conference. Mr 'Stewart has acquainted himself so thoroughly with every feature of public finance and its application in his own country that he cannot . fail to master, quickly the sti'l more difficult problems that now confront him. His colleague, Mr J. G, Coatee, the leader. of the delegation, has paved the way for him to a certaili extent, but he also has suggested move,, ments in the way of tariffs so intricate, in -detail that Mr Stewart must view them with 'sonig trepidation. Be that as it may, it is unlikely Mr Stewart will he able to solve the whole problem to the satisfaction-of .everyone concerned ; ■ but it is certain he will give to it his Whole attention and effort. New Zealand at any rate wilt he content to leave its interests in his hands.