MORE CRITICISM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 344, 4 October 1932, Page 5

MORE CRITICISM

EX-LABOUR PREMIER SAYS CONFERENCE WAS USELESS NO BENEFIT TO PRODUCERS Auckland, Monday. The former Labour Premier of Vietoria, Hon. E. J. Hoganf who was travelling in Europe when the Government was def eated at the State elections in May, arrived by the R.M.S. Aorangi from Vancouver, on his way back to Melbourne. While he declined to discuss his plans, Mr. Hogan was outspoken in his critieism of the agreements reaehed at the Ottawa Conference. The mysterious infiuence of Russia and of British vested interests in Argentina were over them all, he said. Some of the Australian primary producers will receive slight benefits, but Australian and New Zealand producers of frozen meat will get no advantage at ' all. British capitalists pulled more weight at Ottawa for Argentine than Messrs Tout and Angliss, the official advisers of the Australian pastoral and frozen meat interests pulled for Australia. Getting Nothing Mr. Baldwin, leader of the British delegation, was 100 per cent. English, and when conferrnig with the Australian delegates, who were only 50 per cent. Australian, he was unable to obtain more preference for British manufacturers without giving Australia a preferential tariff over Argentina frozen mutton, lamb and beef. This he was not permitted to do. Australian and New Zealand producers, therefore, are denied the advantage they expected and were entitled to receive, and they eontinue getting nothing for their frozen mutton and beef, which is sold in the Smithfield market. The aetual px-ice for which Australian frozen mutton was sold at Smithfield at the end of July was insufficient to meet 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 he righted, but to do so Australia needs 100 per cent. support from all her sons aaid daughters and reasonable support from those others who, although their hornes and hearts may be elsewhere, are nevertheless getting their living from Australia.