EMPIRE CONGRESS

Evening Star, Issue 22460, 3 October 1936, Page 12

EMPIRE CONGRESS

THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE BEGINNING OF BIG CONFERENCE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 2. A State luncheon was tendered to the delegates to the Chamber of Commerce Congress at which the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) presided. Welcoming the delegates, Mr Savage said the time would come when the nations would bury their arms and when they would realise that the brotherhood of man was a real thing. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Forbes) said the holding of the congress here was a great compliment to New Zealand, and he was sure the Dominion would receive a great deal of wise guidance from the deliberations. Lord Elibank, replying on behalf of the visitors, said that most of them who had not had the privilege of visiting New Zealand previously were, for perhaps the first time, recognising the importance of the Pacific to the British races, in the United Kingdom the importance of this question was but dimly recognised, but it was through the assemblage of congresses such as the present that information could be disseminated through the Empire and brought before the right quarters. One of the questions which the congress would consider. Lord Elibank said, would be that of migration within the Empire, and he believed the congress would decide that the time had arrived when migration could be resumed to those dominions which were prepared to accept immigrants. Lord Elibank also referred to the Empire air mail and said the delegates were particularly interested in the negotiations for the establishment of Empire air mails based on a penny halfpenny rate. In conclusion, he said he was convinced that in the event of a future European war the English-speak-ing peoples would have to stand together. MR SAVAGE’S WELCOME. Mr Savage joined Lord Galway in extending a welcome to the visitors. “ I feel you can get a long way with this congress,” he said. Resolutions were helpful, and he was not going to suggest that they would not get realities froin their deliberations. The world was in the melting pot, and if they realised the important place the Empire must play in shaping the future they would get somewhere. The congress wquld probably find ways and means for expanding trade and industries, but unless they could expand the buying power of the consumers they could not expand anything. How to increase it was one of the problems facing both the Empire and the world. They could talk about finding foreign markets, but in the end all their efforts would come back to the buying power of their own people. No country could send goods abroad without taking something in exchange, and consequently production should be reflected in the income of the rank and file of the country. Unless the benefits of production, science, and education could find a way into the homes of the people all their efforts for betterment were useless. If the Empire could organise its economy the rest of the world would look after itself. Production and distribution had to be organised, and if the_ people were not helped they were going to have preferential trade in the Empire. There would have to be two sides to it._ Unless the British people would invest their surplus capital to Jay the foundation of preferential trade they would never get it. While British capital was invested in foreign countries British trade would follow it. He did not want to suggest that they should have all their eggs in one basket, hut if British people were to stand or fall together they should conserve their resources. Mr Savage concluded by saying that he spoke, not as Prime Minister, but as a humble citizen of the Empire, as the representative of the Parliament and people of New Zealand, and as such he extended the hand of good fellowship. STANDARDS OF LIVING. " I think it is generally felt in commercial circles that, while the foundations that were laid were sound, the results of the Ottawa agreements have so far fallen somewhat short of expectations,” said Viscount Elibank at the opening session of the Chamber of Commerce congress to-day. “ They certainly have been effective up to a point, but I might be permitted to suggest that the various Governments concerned are perhaps moving forward too cautiously. I will not say more on this occasion, for the whole subject is to be debated next week. “ On the other side of the picture,” continued Lord Elibank, “ we find ourselves faced by competition from countries having a very low standard of living which we have helped to equip with the most modern machinery and transport. U dess we recognise the changed conditions and adopt new methods to meet them, unrestricted competition in price will lead to retrogression rather than progress in civilisation. Advanced nations must protect themselves against this, unless—which would be far wiser—means can he found to induce backward nations to raise their standards of living.” EXCHANGE STABILISATION. Interesting comment on the international monetary situation was made by Viscount Elibank in the course of his presidential address. “ Within the past few days,” he said, “ there has been a very important incident. A great ameliorating change has occurred by the _ devaluation of the French franc, which is being followed by the devaluation of their currencies by both Switzerland and Holland, other countries still on the gold standard. This creates an entirely different situation, and presents a real hope of that international stabilisation of the exchanges for which the world has long been yearning. At the same time, we within the Empire have our special interests to safeguard in view of our trade agreements and other measures which we have taken for Empire trade, consolidation. We also presume that other colony-owning nations will make arrangements to meet their conditions, “Consequently,” Lord Elibank continued, “ 1 cordially welcome s paragraph contained in the declaration of British policy issued by the London Treasury, in which the British Government says that of course in its policy towards international monetary relations there must be taken fully into account the requirements of the* internal prosperity of Empire countries. As corresponding considerations must be taken into account by the French and American Governments, there is, 1 am sure, no delegate to this congress who does not warmly endorse that statement. “ We are living in unsettled, not to say dangerous, times,” Lord Elibank added. “ The war to end war tormina ted in 191 S, yet almost ever since war clouds have hung on the horizon. Many nations are looking to the British Empire for leadership, and we must

have the courage to recognise that new world conditions have arisen, and that, because certain methods served well in the past, it by no means follows that they will serve in the future. A great responsibility rests upon the British Empire. May we, as representatives of the commercial communities of the Empire, in our deliberations and actions be worthy of our trust.” MESSAGE TO KING. The Chambers of Commerce congress sent the following message to the King:— Delegates to the fourteenth congress of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, hailing from Great Britain, Canada. Australia, Now Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State, India, and the colonies assembled in New Zealand foi tin first time in the 50 years’ history of the congress, request me to thank your Majesty for your gracious message, conveyed by the Governor-General. They respectfully tender to your Majesty, patron of the congress, their loyal and dutiful greetings, to reiterate their devotion tc the throne, and to express their sincere and confident hope that your Majesty’s reign will he long, peaceful, and prosperous. They trust that their deliberations will' result in the formulation of proposals which will bring about n further and speedy expansion of interimperial economic relations, and will thus contribute towards the solidarity of the British Empire. —(Signed) Elibank.