TRADE AGREEMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1932, Page 5

TRADE AGREEMENTS

TO BE RATIFIED

THE FIRST STEP AFTER OTTAWA

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, August 29,

No definite information has been received by the Prime Minister as to when it is proposed that the Ottawa trade .agreements, as between Britain and New Zealand, shall come into operation, but Mr Forbes stated, in reply to a question that he presumed that the first step would be th e submission of the agreement to the Parliaments concerned, for • ratification and that, subject to it being endorsed a date would then be arranged for the new' terms and conditions to come into effect. . The ratification of the agreement, he said, would bo one of the matters for consideration during the Parliamentary session, and if Parliament concurred in the new arrangement, legislation would be introduced as required, giving effect to the preferences set out in the schedules of the agreements.

The New Zealand agreement, he said, contains a provision whereby the Government underetakes to institute an inquiry into the existing protective duties, and, where nOcessary, to re. duoo them as epeedily as possible to a level placing the British manufacturer in the position of a domestlo competitor,

(Mr Forbes isaid that the Govern, ment did not contemplate making the necessary investigation until the agreement had been approved by ParliamentHe was unable to say at present what form (the (inquiry would take and what its scop. e would be.

MR BALDWIN’S STATEMENT.

HOPES FULFILLED AT OTTAWA

LONDON, August 28

"Ottawa more ’than fu’filled our hopes,” declared Mr Baldwin, when broadcasting. “The agreements will help the Dominions Imaterially, and will react favourably on British trade.” . ' • .

'ln this connection th 6 Cabinet sat this morning and this .afternoon, and discussed the Ottawa agreements. It a!iso discussed the ' position regarding Ireland.. .

There is the possibility that Parliament will be summoned before, October 27. The Prime Minister (Mr It. MacDonald) and Mr J. H. Thomas are dying to Balmoral Castle on Monday to report to His Majesty. ' Departmental officials ate closely enrg‘aged perfecting the • machinery -necessary ijjr* implementing the Government’s policy, of which the Ottawa decision now form a part. The Conference delegates in a general survey, assert that the Conference represents {important advances)" and. :-tegisters a degree, of success far beyond anything expected before they left' England. It is recognised that a general return of confidence among traders and purchasers .still remains the essential need of the present situation. In their view, however, the success

of the Conference has .an important bearing on the broader and ■in particular on the prospects of the approaching World 'Economic Conference. . .

' The ability of the British Commonwealth to influence that. Conference Jwould have been weakened, jf not destroyed, by the failure of progress towards a solution of the ; Commonwealth’s own problems.

INTERVIEW WITH ,H.M. THE KING

LONDON, August 28,

The “Morning Poet’s” political correspondent &ays: "The most important news that Messrs Baldwin and Thomas will convey to* the King to-day is that the ratification of the Ottawa ( agreements is not likely to cause the resignation of the Free Trade members of the Cabinet, whose objectives to the agreement are regarded as being within the scope of the “agreement to differ.’.”

Free Trade Ministers, however, will probably conduct a campaign against the: agreements with the Dominions when the. details are published.

CONFERENCE! HAS GIVEN LEAD

TO EMPIRE AND THE WORLD

(Received .this.day at 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 30,

The Federal Government, in a statement, declares: ‘‘The Ottawa Conference has given a lead, not only in Empire co-operation, but also in world recovery. It is a very real improvement in the position that formerly obtained (to have ensured (that .the existing preferences under the B r it ls h Imports Duties Act will be confirmed and secured. Those duties were imposed as an emergency measure and would lapse in November if the agreement had not been reached at Ottawa.”