HON. G. W. FORBES

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1933, Page 6

HON. G. W. FORBES

ADDRESSES CONFERENCE iUnited Press Associati/sn—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received this day at 12 noon.) . LONDOiv, June 15. Hon. G. W. Forbes was the last t address the plenary session at the conference. He said lie had been particularly impressed by the speech of Mr Chamberlain, who had suggested measures for the improvement of trade and monetary relations. New Zealand would do tlieir utmost to support a practical basis for co-operative action, leading to a. general recovery. . Unless commodity prices were raised substantially, to roduce the real burden, the existing debts must generally be scaled down, which may indeed be nocessaiy, in addition to raising the price level. Though the adjustment of debits must be a question. for cote sideration—mainly by the parties ana countries immediately concerned, the problem was of such a pressing general concern as to warrant conference consideration.

Mr Forbes urged the Conference to deal with equitable shipping conditions, particularly the right of ships without discrimination nationally to co-operate in trade which was not merely lecal ana coastwise.

Referring to the qualitative regulation of trade,. Mr Forbes ‘aid the producers of Now Zealand. disapproved ot limitation of exports or production. Instead, they, hoped .for the removal of the barriers and the restoration of purchasing power, to enable the absorption of increased supplies.