TRADE AND FINANCE BRITISH COMMERCE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 16

TRADE AND FINANCE

BRITISH COMMERCE

PRODUCE & MARKET REPORTS FROM DAY TO D&Y

IMPERIAL CONGRESS

INTER-DOMINION RELATIONS

"Evening Post," Ist May. A great variety of questions of Dominion importance will be discussed at the triennial congress of Federated Chambers of' Commerce of the British Empire, to be held in London 2.7 th May. Commercial relations within the Empire have precedence, arid the first motion by the council of the federation will take the form of a call to all the people of the Empire to make "a concerted and determined effort" through their respective Govern-1 ments to "formulate. an economic policy for the Empire, which will result in closer cooperation between , its constituent parts." Adelaide will propose: "That inasmuch as certain of the Dominions of the Empire, as, for instance, the Commonwealth of Australia, have adopted a policy of protection, the scheme of free trade -within the Empire is not practicable," and reciprocity within, the Empire is suggested as an alternative." . ' Auckland will move: "That this conference deplores the increasing lack of cordiality, manifest in trade relations between sonic of the units of the British Commonwealth of Nations and urges that_ trade be developed by maintenance of tariffs betw.een different parts of the Empire at lowest possible levels. Northampton would see "freer interchange of- commodities between the constituent parts of the Empire" and establishment of an Imperial Economic Union. Warrington desires co-ordination of the resources of the Empire. Melbourne considers "tkat the present time calls for a better understanding of the problem's of each part of the Empire:" Dewsbury , pleads for reciprocal interchange 'of commodities as leading to greater - prosperity of the Empire. • ■Air-maiJ • services, air-ports, and aeronautical, education will be discussed on suggestions of the London' Chamber. • South Africa will move for reiniroduetion ;of penny postage throughout the Empire. . . . . ■ ; ■ "'Domestic value," a subject on which there is considerable diversion of opinion throughout the Empire, will also be raised by South African representatives, who ■will move: "That in the interests of Imperial (trade it is desirable that all Dominions should endeavour to arrive at a common measure of agreement as to what constitutes current domestic value for the assessment of ad valorem duties." , Belleville, Ontario, is . important as a centre of the great Canadian cheese industry- of the larger Dominion. From the chamber of that city will be presented a motion: "That to secure employment for all who have the will to -work, and to reestablish, the prosperity of British trade, commerce, and industry, the pressing burden of taxation should, so far as possible, be Temoved from manufacturing business and productive industries of the Empire." ■Fixing a date for elusive Easters; imperial education, trade statistics, and the great need for their uniformity; imperial education and commercial education; bills of lading; standardisation; and bankruptcy and insolvency legislation are also included in subjects to bo brought before the congress. Arrangements for the great gathering include a. banquet at the Savoy and an Empire Day dinner, luncheon at the Mansion House, and a • visit to Northampton to witness a pageant in that ancient yet mod-errily-enterprislng city, and a garden iparty at Taplow on the Thames. His Majesty the King is patron of the congress, but the proceedings will be opened by the Prince of Wales, at the Guildhall, a ; most suitable place of assembly for representatives of commercial interests from all parts of the Ijmpire. The Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand will be represented by Mr. Sydney Jacobs (formerly of Wellington), a member of the executive committee;- Mr.-W. Machen, Christchurch; Mr. F. G. Gibbs, Nelson.