OTTAWA PROPOSALS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 261, 28 June 1932, Page 4

OTTAWA PROPOSALS

The recent statement made by the Prime Min'ister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) as an outline of the attitude which will be adopted by the New Zealand delegation to the Ottawa Conference, in the telegraphed message was described as the "New Zealand Government's policy for presentation at the conference." After reading Mr. Forbes' state- 1 ment we are rather forced to the conclusion that the word "policy" has been wrongly applied. The statement was much more of a generalisation than a policy, and althongh Mr. Forbes expressed and reiterated a number of very commendable convictions regarding the necessity for strengthening the bonds of Em~ pire, no information was given regarding the concrete terms of the proposals which will be submitted by this Dominion. Admittedly these proposals must be moulded and ,modified largely according to the trend of discussions at the conference, but taking that fully into account, the Prime Minister might have taken the country more fully into his confidence in the matter. We believe that the people generally are fully seized of the importance of the conference, and the necessity for evolving some practical scheme of Empire commercial co-operation, but the Prime Minister's; statement did little to enlighten them regarding the contribution which New Zealanc will make towards this end. A large number of expert advisers have assisted in the preparation of the case which will be presented on behalf of this Dominion, and the people generally might well have been given some more substantial information regarding the strength of the case. Without at least a genera' idea of the proposals, as apart from the commonplace of Empire unity and co-operation, the general taxpayers will not have an opportunity of judging the extent of the results achievod. It is true that Mr. F-orbes statec. that New Zealand would have definite concessions to offer in return for Empire preferences, but he stopped there and did not reveal what these concessions are likely to be. We thoroughly agree "with the Prime Minister's opinion that "the constituent members of the British Commonwealth of Nations can make arrangements in trade and other economic affairs which will be to

the material advantage of all," but that does not take us a great deal further. The British Government was considerably more informative in outlining its proposals, and the people of this Dominion could have followed the Ottawa proeeedings with a more intelligent interest, if Mr. Forbes had been a little more detailed in his policy statement.