BRITISH TRADE PACT WITH U.S.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 35, 4 November 1937, Page 5

BRITISH TRADE PACT WITH U.S.

— PreeB Asan.-

Appeals in the House of Commons POSITION OF DOM1NIONS

(By Telegrapb

-CoDyrinht.)

(Keceived 4, 8.45 aan.) LONDON, Nov. 3. In the House of Commons appeals to the Government to seize the opportunity for a trade ag -ement with the United . fcates in whioh NeW Zealand, Australia and Canada would co-oper* ate, and for the modificatiori of Imperial preference, wero made during the debate on a Liberal amendment to hlie Address-in-Reply. Mr Graham \.hite, in seconding the amendment, protested against the fatalistie outlook that the world must relapse into a depression. Confidence was undermined by the uncertainty of the wool market, whieh was disorganised through the Far . East trouble. America at present was holding'out the band of friendship, but would not hold it out indefinitely. It was certain that New Zeaalnd,. Australia and Canada would not oppose improved - BritishAmerican relations. Mr L. C. M. Avery said that the most effective way to develop the resources of the Dominions was to buy their products. Nevertheless, England and the Dominions always wanted a certain volume of foreign trade. Mr H. B. Lees Smith said that the Domininos must increase their trade with foreign eountries. New Zealand couid not sell td England the butter she wonld produce in the next generation. Half the Dominion's trade was alraedy foreign. Looking to the future, they must realise that England's population was stationary. He advocated an intermediate tariff for the United States. Sir Archibald Sinclair said that Empire eountries would stand to gain moro from economic appeasement and "restoration of world trade thanthey would lose b , the modifieation ,of Imperial preference. The Hon. Oliver Stanley said that the possibility of furtber development of migration must depCnd on ,Dominion sentiment and belief in their ability to absorb migrants. The amendment was defeated by 363 votes to 146.