COMMERCE AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2420, 27 March 1915, Page 30

COMMERCE AND THE WAR

THE HOBART CONGRESS SPEECH BY STATE GOVERNOR The twelfth annual congress of delegates of the Chambers of Commerce of the-Commonwealth was opened by tho Governor in the Legislative Council Chamber at Hobart on March 15. Mr. ! A. H. Ashbolt (vice-president) presided, and delegates from all tho Australian Chambers were presont. Tlie Governor referred to statistics showing a diminution of imports from tho United Kingdom to Australia and exports from Australia to Great Britain. We might bo fast- approaching what' might bo tho' dividing ' of the ways, for the events which were now taking place on the battlefields, of Europo must inevitably not only mould the policy ot' tlie Empire for many years to come, but also affect very considerably tho commerce of the world. Now was tlie time for us to consider and examine tlie methods.and criticise principles for future guidance as to the way the commerce of the Umpire was being carried on. Were we sure there were no cobwebs to be wiped away!' Had we in the past neglected the exploitation of the same channels of fruitful commerce, which, owing to our negligence, had passed over .to rivals, if not to hostile Had we devoted as much patient attention, to tho examination of details and to the investigation of local requirements by wbich alone we could hope to catch and retain the confidence of those we'hoped to deal with? Those were questions of considerable importance to the commerce of the Empire and trading communities throughout the Empire. '(Hear, hear.) We must how prepare for the future. We could not disguise from ourselves .the fact that one of the most deep-seated causes of the present great war had been the desire of Germany to destroy,"if she could, the commercial system -of the .-British Empire—(applause)—that Germany wished to subject thq commerce of the whole world to the domination of Ger- , many, just as it wa6 proposed to place the other nations of Europe'under tho military despotism of Berlin. (Hear, hear.) Fortunately up to-the prcselit those desires had not been achieved, and that was owing, first of all, to tho solid foundation upon which the banking of tho United Kingdom had rested— (applause) —and, secondly, to the noble supremacy of the British Navy. (Hear, hear.) Theresults constituted.as magnificent a tribute to the soundness of the one, as to the efficiency 'of the other. . (Hear, hear.) But we must remember that we Were fighting now not .only for our future welfare and that of the smaller States of Europe, but also for-the commercial freedom of the' whole world. (Applause.) It would, therefore, remain when the titanic struggle was brought to a successful issue for those whom the Congress represented, and the representatives ot commerce throughout the Empire, to take heed that the lessous of the. past were not forgotten, and that,_ on the other hand, .they would be utilised to inspire and direct with a common-organ! isation the development of the resources of the British Empire. (Applause.)

• Sir. Ashbolt, as vice-president, . in moving the adoption of tho president's report, and of the balance-sheet, said: "Bodies such as ours should endeavour to make it impossible, for many years to come at any rate, for Germany to again acquire that, wealth Without which she could never havo embarkec] upon such a war. We must-- remember that in a few years from tho termination of

the war a new generation will be standing in our places. They will not have experienced the miseries and cruelty of this war, which, to tli'em will be history only, and they will quickly revert again to buying in the cheapest market. Steps therefore cannot he too quickly taken to produce some form of preferential trading within the component parts of our Empire, then with our Allies and neutrals, and at a still higher cost, and as a last resource '- with our present enemy. Some such proposition seems to me inevitable, and it will be necessary for Australia to say how and where she can assist in such a "scheme of Imperial trade. Now it seems to mo that fo,r very many years-Australia must be a. producer from oil the soil rather than' a manufacturer, but we cijjnnot extract the maximum from our soil 'Tinder present conditions.

"Tho ideal of a White Australia is a beautiful ideal,'but in my opinion it is doomed to be an ideal dnly. It is not practicable if tho soil is to be a6kcd to produce its maximum fertility. . Then, again, there must be an adjustment of views upon the termination of this war, and it will be unreasonable for Australian politicians to imagine they, can force their views in opposition to those of the bulk of our Empire. We have a great extent of country on our northern shore, and I would create a boundary just the same as the boundaries between European countries. There are certain regular recognised routes of communication between each, which are protected by Customs houses, forts, etc., and I would create, sucli here and reserve such enclosed territory for cultivation by coloured people. . "The next matter in which Australia can help is by attractive immigration proposals. In all probability" taxation in all European countries will be so heavy after the war that many, will undoubtedly seek new countries, and it is up to us to do what we can to attract them.here. 'If our Labour politicians would cease their antagonism to capital and co-operate with capital ,to induce immigration, we could embark /upon new ,manufactures and extend those already existing."