BRITISH INTERESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1932, Page 7

BRITISH INTERESTS

INFLUENCE AT OTTAWA. .MR .HOGAN’S CRITICISM. AUCKLAND, October 3'. The former Labour Premier of Victoria, Hon. E. J. Hogan, who was travelling in Europ e when the Government was defeated at the State elections in May, - arrived by the Aorangi. from Vancouver on his way back to Melbourne. While he declined to discuss • his plana, Mr Hogan was outspoken in his criticism of the .agreements reached at the Ottawa Conference. “The mysterious. influence of Russia and of British vested interests in th 6 Argentine was over them all,” he said, “Some Australian primary producers will receive slight benefits, but the Australian and .New Zealand producers of frozen meat wijl get no advantage at all, British capitalists pulled more weight at Ottawa for the Argentine than Meters Tout and Atngli-ss, official advisers of the Australian pastoral and frozen meat, interests, pulled for Austra-'A, “Mr Baldwin, .leader of the British delegation, was 100 per cent, English, and, when conferring with the Australian delegates, who were only 50 per cent, Australian, he was unable to obtain more preference for British manufactures without .giving Australia a preferential tariff over Argentine frozen mutton, lamb and 'beef. This he was not permitted to do, “T’h 9 Australian and New Zealand producers, therefore, are denied the advantage they (expected and were entitled to receive, and they continue getting nothing for their frozen mutton and beef, which is sold in Smith-field n/irkejfc. The actual price for which (Australian frozen mutton was sold at ISmithfield at the end of July was insufficient to meet th e selling and handling charges in England, and the transport charges from the farm in Australia by train and boat to England. This state of affairs was neither righted nor relieved at Ottawa. It .should be righted, but to do so Australia needs 100 per cent, support from all her so-ns and daughters and reasonable from those others who, although their homes and hearts may be -elsewhere, are nevertheless getting their living from Australia.”