HC Deb 25 April 1934 vol 288 cc1696-7
44. Mr. MANDER

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of summoning an Imperial conference at an early date to consider the issues raised by the offer of the New Zealand Government to provide a free market for British goods in return for a similar free market for New Zealand goods in this country?

The PRIME MINISTER

As will be seen from the correspondence recently published as a White Paper (Cmd. 4557), and as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member for South Shields on 28th March, no such offer has been made. The question asked by my hon. Friend does not therefore arise.

Mr. MANDER

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware of the grave danger to the whole economic future of this most loyal of the Dominions by the rejection by the Government of the offer, or whatever it may be termed, which was actually made by the New Zealand Government?

The PRIME MINISTER

The hon. Member persists in assuming that what I have said is not true.

Sir PERCY HARRIS

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that one of the results of the new policy of the Government is to reduce markets for Dominion goods? This Dominion now has a smaller market for its butter than before the new policy of the Government was introduced.

Sir H. SAMUEL

Is it not the case that, if New Zealand did not make an offer, the New Zealand Government made an inquiry as to whether an arrangement could not be arrived at for the free interchange of goods?

The PRIME MINISTER

I have always been taught to believe that there is a difference between an offer and an inquiry.

Major COLFOX

Is not the real cause of the difficulty that New Zealand is suffering from the fact that so many countries competing with her in our market give big export subsidies which entirely outweigh any benefits that New Zealand gets under the Ottawa Agreements?

Mr. MANDER

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of summoning a special Imperial Conference to consider the inquiry made by the New Zealand Government into the possibility of some arrangement of this kind?