AN INTERVIEW

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1932, Page 8

AN INTERVIEW

WITH MR BENNETT,

PREFERENCE OR QUOTA

OTTAWA, ■ August 2

, Mr R. B. Bennett (Canadian Prime Minister) made his first appearance at the daily Press interview, and submitted himself amicably to a gruelling lire iof questions. He skilfully parr.ed most lines of Inquiry, except for declaring his positive opinion that there should be preference on wheat, whether by quota or tariff. > He: deplored the false newspaper reports, which were calculated to prejudice the-delicate - negotiations. ‘‘Can there by anything, worse for me discussing matters affecting the welfare and happiness of millions than tc find daily in the .newspapers accounts of discus 1 - sions which never happened ?’ be 'asked; . -.vrn.v' ~. Tile most, experienced / -Relegate .. had informed him that he had never" attended a conference' where the high spirit of optimism, faith and confidence was so good. An occasional jarring note now, and then was, of cour-e, inevitable.

HURT TO OTHERS. 1;' “The, business is progressing exactly a’s /ITvould have hoped,” he said. “We no longer are in the ..eloudland oi conjecture,. I expect to be .able /to- announce/. definite ', results , within ten days.’- He! predicted, that the- conclusions would- be made public, except any Requiring / fegig'lative action, when - a general, instead of specific announcement,., Would be made. He anticipated that thW' .Conference possibly, would decide ' to strengthen trade representations -between Britain and. the Dominions, giving High .Commissioners., greater authority. ~-kpv . A foreign correspondent asked, “Is it possible: 1 that this- Conference will be Rijccersful without hurting foreign coun. tries ?.” r- •- . ’• i W * ' ■ v '>' /.

Air Bennptt* replied : “We are not c o greatly concerned about foreign countries, as about ..our own,- but cannot survive, or regain its lost position, . unless there is international trade.” /.,/. ■ '

■ CANADA'S TERMS. The whole range of monetary suggestions jwa.Si-.traversed by experts before the currency committee, including the establishment of a Central Bank - at London as a. clearing , hou=e for trade balances. . Neither this nor any other .proposal has yet been adopted, said Air Bennett,., , './ .

Mr Bennett’s remarks that the Canadian . cotton industry was one of * the most efficient' is considered to mean that "his (opinion was that the industry could" still'/ prosper with greater competition'' than' hitherto. Therefore it is expected that British cottons will be permitted to . enter , ./Canada., or prefer-' enfipl terms. it 'V It ig ' understood that Canadas complete programme is: (1) Concessions in approximately 8000 items ; (2) requests, including; * wheat and"'meat' preference's, •to’ be r "presented to the British delegation to-morrow, Canada is prepared to favbur !, ‘the British manufacturer to the extent 1 of nearly 200,000,000 dollar-- a

year, the biggest commodity being steel, others- • being electrical goods-, leather', cordage and textiles. ; UNILATERAL TREATIES,

■ "Bennett" would not disclose what stage Canada had reached in offering, concessions to Britain, but indicated that negotiations were proceeding. It had already been suggested to the Conference that, in the- event of bV-ate-ral treaties, being arranged . between, --Britain and the dominions,, pr between two domi lions, the Conference might before it disperses give its blessing ;to such treaties, instead of actually negotiating a multilateral treaty. . - , v Discussing wheat, he said that both tariff. had been,) explored, but a decision had not yet - . ibeefl. reached. -Referring to the,.present campaign by western against preferences he jsaid ri.that;: the Government must make up. its--, r.owu. mind. It had done so. < : a

, . CANADA’S TEXTILES, i' Regarding lumber Canada, will prt'S for protection agabst unfair Russian competition, said Mr Bennett. Regarding textiles he said,, that .Canada, as far as possible, would encourage imports | from Britain, which would not impair efficient Canadian industries. He added significantly •. “The Canadian cotton industry is one of the most efficient in ■the world. Canada possesses the larg-, est cotton mill in North America. Itis, larger than any in Lancashire.’’ .Asked what was the position regarding woollens, and for his personal views as to the relative merits of. quota and preference, Mr Bennett said that in some cfcs.es a .quota, was .preferable, in others a preference would be more efI fective.

Asked to indicate other efficient Canadian industries, Mr Bennett >■ replied that Canada had not reached the position of being the fifth trading country in the world and the third largest exporting country, on a per capita basis, without building up one of .the most efficient manufacturing,' structures • .in.flto world. Manufactured goods had grown amazingly in; yolume in -the past twenty-five years and were successfully meeting all competitor) until the depression came. • 1 Mr Bennett predicted that the conference would end; before August 20.