OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1932, Page 3

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

ROUND THE EMPIRE. (From the Empire Review.) The Ottawa Conference, on which for the last month all eyes have been focused, has concluded its sittings, and the various delegations are now returning to their own countries, where "steps «ill he taken, as soon as possible, to bring the conclusion reached by the family council before their respective Parliaments. That being done, m due course the Empire will be enjoying the benefits of the economic change® in our imperial trado formulated and agreed upon after full consideration and much practical discussion. The general lines of the trade agreements were made known at the last plenary sitting, but, for reasons easily apparent, the tariff alterations cannot in all cases be revealed until after parliamentary ratification. Public opinion has acclaimed the Conference an outstanding success. A very great step forward has I jen taken towards enlarging the principle and ensuring the certainty of political unity. Where so much opportunity for publicity was made available it was perhaps natural that when controversy arose from within, the position of., the parties concerned should be exaggerated by onlookers and at times used, foi purposes hardly legitimate. But these were small, if annoying, .incidents. The determination of the del gatipns,. and, alone and- beyond all, the master mind of Mr Bennett, who. presided, without a break over the Conference quickly adjusted differences, and any feelings of vexation that arose melted speedily away like snow before the rising sun.

THE KING’S INTEREST. Without doubt His Majesty’s message read by the Governor td whom we beg leave to offer our best congratulations on, the distinguished part he played at this 6is first great function since he became Governor or Canada) at tV opening meeting has been verified to the letter. Based, as the British Empire is, on the principle of co-operation, it! has been, as the Royal message so wisely anticipated, “the common purpose of- all the delegations to give the fullest possible effect to that principle in, the economic sphere” with the gratifying result that we have befor e us today a record “worthily reflecting tlie frankness, the sincerity, and the spirit;of hopeful ness” which h's marked the deliberations at Otvawa fr*m beginning to end. Now we have His reply to the loyal a ddress telegraphed' by the delegates at the conclusion of the Conference. After expressing thanks for thier devotion and good wishes to the Queen a n d himself, the message goes on to say, “Your work has been arduous and intricate, but' I rejoice to think that your achievement has justified the high expectation with which th e Conference began, and that you have been able, not only to conclude important practical agreements for the.promotion of trade within the Empire but also to adopt principles to htlp its future development.” This messag e reveals not alone thanks to statesmen who havd well truly performed an “arduous and intricate” bask, it indicates the close interest His Majesty takes in the affairs of State and lias a personal touch certain to go home to the hearts of bis subjects in . all parts of the Empire.

THE AGREEMENTS. As we go to press th 6 text of the Agreements comes to hand. We have not the space to recite thes e . documents in full, nor have we time at our command to give them consideration that is their; due: We must, therefore, ]eav e . over any extended comment till the October issue when it is hoped that Sir Henry Page Croft, ALP., Captain Peter Macdonald,- M.P., and other accepted authorities on Imperial affairs will review) the results and adjudicate the consequences of a Conference which everyone will agree Las left ail indelible impression on the world’s history. Important economic changes are a British import duty on ay heat of 2s per quarter and the regulation of meat and bacon imports for the benefit of the Home and Dominion producer. But perhaps of greater value than any immediate concession! is the acceptance by Canada, Australia, and New Zealand of the principles that “protection by tariffs shall be afforded' against United Kingdom products only to those industries reasonably assured of sound opportunities of success.’’ Australia is Mill of praise for what has been accomplished at Ottawa and is fully sensible i f the steps taken to improve the serins position resulting to producers from the low level of world prices. New Zealand gives us exemption from the existing sur-tax and increases certain preferences. South Africa helps with preferences on mining and industrial machinery and new duties on eign textiles Avith preferences for several classed, of manufactured goods from this country. Useful arrange-■nerit-s have also been made with Rhodesia, NoAvfoundland, and the Colnios, while the liberality of Canada : s se n by the granting of free entry or increased preference for 220 items. With special satisfaction, eve not that ■>n a request from ithe British Govern" nent, the Dominions have agreed to It their Tariff Boards to make a re'<!W of the duties charged on any pecified commodities.

THE DUMPING CLAUSE. Inserted in the Canadian Agreement

primarily intended to prevent wholesale dumping from Russia, is the following clause: —

This agreement is made on the express condition that if either Government is satisfied that any preferences hereby granted jn respect of any particular class of commodities are likely to be frustrated in whole or in part by reason of the creation or maintenance directly cr indirectly of prices for such class of commodities through State action on tine part of any foreign country, that Government hereby declares that it will exercise the powers which it now has or will hereafter take to prohibit the entry from such foreign country directly or indirectly of such commodities; into its country for such time as may be necessary to make effective and to maintain the preferences hereby granted by it.

One regrets that no time, vva s available for a debate on migration, and wei .should have liked some information as to the secretariat wlhich seems to have faded into oblivion.

ANGLO-INDIAN ARRAN GEMENT3. The Anglo-Indian Agreement has been achieved with the greatest goodwill on both sides. The United Kingdom will continue to give f' ree entry to all Indian goods within the scope if the 10 per cent, duty imposed on imports, with the exception of essentia 1 . food-stuffs and raw materials, under th* Imports Duties Act, 1932. In addition. . the duties on specified foreign goods are to be raised to higher levels ,and the preference enjoyed by Indian goods accordingly enhanced. In view of the i apo.-tance of linseed to Indian agriculture this commodity, hitherto imported free, will be. subject to a 10 per cent, duty, while Indian linseed ir to receive a corresponding preference. Not the least important part of the agreement deals 'with Indian cotton and its extended use in this country, and intimation has been conveyed to the proper quarter that the British Government is rerdy to co-operate in any practical "cheme agreed to b°tv ?n the United Kingdom cotton industry and th e Indian growers for promo tng (.he extended u% Indian cotton by Lancashire, whether by research propaganda or improved marketing. India is to give a per cent., tariff preference on certain cesses of motor vehicles, and on other articles covered by the agreement the rate of preference will be 10 per cent. These preferences may be given either by an iiicrea.se of duties on foreign good’-, or a reduction on United Kingdom goods, or a combination of both measures.

THE DAVIDSON REPORT. The publication of the report of the Indian States (Financial) inquiry Committee completes the trilogy of investigations promised .at the second session of the’ Round-Table Conference. Mr Davidson and his colleagues had, perhaps, the most difficult of the tlhi-ee tasks, since the ground to be traversed v..as, for the most part, almost unexplored. The problem which they liiad to face was the determination of the extent to which' a system of federal finance must (fake account of the various privileges and immunities enjoyed by the" State in virtue, of their rcdatconship with the British Crown. Since each State is an individual entity, the inquiry had to be pursued State by State, and the logical form of the report has rather suffered. From the mass of detailed recommendations, it is not alw'nys easy to pick out general principles, and, indeed, except to experts, the report is almost unreadable save as a work of reference. Thus viewed, however, it is most valuable, and will take its own place on the shelf reserved for the few Blue Books on 'lndia—the Simon Report is another—wlhich are of permanent, as distinct from ephemeral, importance.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS. Although the purposes of the two documents are very different, the Davidson Report naturally invites comparison ’■ ith the report of Sir Harcourt Butler’s committee. But, AV-hereas- the Butler, Report assumed the continuation of the present regime, and Avas concerned to make no statement, and to Ipnt forward no Avhich might appear embarrassing to the Government of India, the Davidson Report, looking as it does to an assumed filture, adopts an attitude whidh is for more impartial as between the GoveVnmont of India and the Indian 'States. Plainly, Mr DlvUlson and his colleagues believe that many of the economic grievances of Avhich the States have long complained are very serion* indeed ; and, in their view, the admitted administrative com'enience of the system which permits these grievances f Holds no excuse for their perpetuation. Th<> report makes out a good case for holding tfhat many States will have ’’envy claimis again t the Government of India. On the other hand, since the 'visic -assumption of the findings i that the States will federate, the Com-mittee-are careful to explain that their recommendations depend upon this contingency being- realized, and must not be taken as providing an armoury of ' Hence for employment against the deof the present system. This proviso, however “canny,” is rather illo(deal, -since ef-acts are facts, wlhethei it be convenient to take them into consideration or not. and, onc e brought to light, can scarcely disappear from view.

' THE COMMUNAL AWARD. Unlike the Davidson Report, whirl has excited little comment s«v o some cyptions complaints “that the States aulieing bribed to enter Federation” from British India, the- long-promised communal award, has displaced all oth?r

topics in the Indian press. It is a most sensible document, the effect of which is to give a reasonable measure of safety to the minority communities without perpetuating “statutory" majorities” based upon religion. It deals only with the Provinces: the problems of th 6 Centre have yet to be tackled. But since the Province® are the dangerpoint, no one can accuse the , Prime Minister and his advisers of avoiding the issue. Both in the Punjab and in Bengal, the Muffim position i® ingeniously secured La practice, while. >n theory the apprehensions of the Hindus are tenderly handled. Already, the more moderate Muslims have' expressed thieir rcLdiness to accept the award as a working basis,' altihough they do not profess to like it. Since tbe Hindu Liberals hav e done the same, with like reservation, there is a solid measure of support available for the settlement.