IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1923, Page 3

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN ANIJ N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. MR 1)1! FCENS VIEWS. I.fiNDON. Novender 8. .Ar, tile Jv'ononiie C-mfei cnee. .Mi Bruce ompliasised that lie did not want the impression to get abroad that Australia was in difli-nhy. and that he was trying to grab something. On the eontraiy. Austnlja was one of the fortunate count lies th,-u were in no ] articular trouble. Slip was able to go on comfortably, but be believed that her future lay within the Emj ire. and they would also be helping themselves to a:’ oven greater extent. Be moved a re affi: (nation of flic 1817 resolution. LONDON. Xovemhor 8. 100 Eeoa»'mie ( onferein <> will to-mor-row again have ihe vv iiolo-s (|Ui stion 1 (Tore it. but the impasse between tic: Dost (Hli <■ and Marconi's continue and it looks as if Mr B: nee will have to continue to negotiate apa it from the ('oniereme in ord'-r in seeiiie di reel eommiinieatiou. It i- underst.non he lia- had practically' no suppoil from either ('anada or Simili Alriea. who arc quite content vvitli the ja-ent wireless position, and it would thu- aiq.car as if .Mr Bruee will have in deal with .Marumi instead of the British post Office, to secure his object. On the subject of foreign affniis AD Bruce is satisfied with the arrangements made fro- keej mg the Dominions in touch with the march of events. it is understood the Conference skate,! over the question ol an Tnip-eiial Set Term ia'., it being lelt il would inopportune. uial might create unneces-

sary difficulties. In tin- matter of f,,. reign nffti-its, a Eeeretaiiat could he of no coal value. 1 orause -oeroey is aimed at in such matters, which might run miiiic additional risk.

SU BSIDIES AND IMPORT LICENSES THE ( O.MMUTEE'K FINDING. (Received ibis day at !!.() a.m.) LONDON. November !h During the di-ru-sion yesieidav at the I'.eoiaimie Confereme on the quoslion ot -ill -idles and import licenses and the sla: ilisat ion ol | rii es. Sir I’liilii I hioyd ( ■ reelin' pointed out llia.t lie l oiumiitee f and subsidies iiiipruri ieable as they involved ihe lelentiou by the Government graining the mi:-

silly ol iho right to exi'lci--' sll|er'ision and diioetiou over ihe recipient of i ! ,e sub-idy. They mi a iiimousl y iheiighl it would obviously l.e lmpraelieahlc for one Government lo do that V'llieh v.:is within the jurisdii I ion ol another. It was ills:, impracticable to make the subsidy vary with the prol'ereniia! let'alrs accorded in I'nilod Kingdom products heeailse ihe subsidy would have to he constant and they could not depend on r variable factor even if the proposal was attempted. While direct, financial benefit would go to individual trailers, liionev for the subsidies would

come from the general taxpayer. h was also clear that a difleu'lil id subsidy might operate unfairly as between one Dnn)iu.inn and another. The committee emisideied the import licenses and the stal'lli-ainm of prices togethei because the sy-tem ef | rohi'iitioii and liei■!!'.;■ would involve the estaldi'hnieiii of a State I’itreha-i' Board and a. Price C o tiol Board. Ai the Genoa Conference very eaiefni < u-ide <a l ion hrd been given to the onc-tieii and Die ok - ten'll. e a.iiaiuucm -ly adopted Ihe i, oliition sii)!pnrti'd by the whole Em , tr

deb'gatiou that the system of prohiliiI i"ii and license ought to ! " avoiilei! if ally other system was apt lica'nle. The rea-en wlii h led tin present commit tee to ondersf Iho Genoa ro-olui ion was: Fii'.sn'y, t r. emem'f.’i:. I ly of trade. If ti e-, h: • 1 a i"i;i'f. eo'iy- ! oily know v Inal it was; if they had I'rohiliition and lieeiiso nobody know the rosiill. There would be great dill:eullies in getting sin plies and obtaining shiinunl. It would ho impaissihle j to rely on getting delivery , i si.p----i pin - promptly on the issue of a license I and tin* peopltg v. Imim' prodnetien you j are living le-lrnt. would naturally' i b- the iir-t to take advantage ef any j artificial shortage hv helding-iiu de- | liveries. Set; Old ly the effect of th" li,-ei sing system would give an enhanced value lo goods admit led to the country which would inertly go into the poeki t of the | e,son obtaining the license. The licensing nnihorily would haw a duty thrown u] oil it far Dm invidious in le I ie ne ni-il might he laced wit h the difficulty at wla-t Iter il should exclude chilled meat if Dozen meat was avail 'ode; also the gpeatei difficulty wherein the li-nsing aiit-lmr-11v would be placed in the matter ot granting nr reDi~ing licenses, il it granted a license, all producers, wlm(ber here oi in the Damillioils. would say, v hv have you grunted these lien is. If. on the other hand, they I'elrana'd from granting them, the consumers would say Dud ]it‘iees laid risen rial why are mu licenses granted. I hole was nothing of certainty in the tin iff. and ii really might jncjudhe the whole system of Imperial development. If they els e controlled ini! oris by license there would he an irresistible demand for puce control. F.xpork'iiie in dilf, parts of ilm Empiie ol price control mndu ii clear that it v.ii- impossible hi a system o! control to tin* let quality govern the price. They also found that tin- control ol prices was a cost|v proceeding and the eonimiHee 1 heirfere recommended the closest cno; eratitin l.etween H o Dominions and tbu Homo Governtiienl cm! tho producers coimeming improv'd market conditions. Si,- philio l.lovd Graeme indicated p. ; ,i j; ;his country decided to ini p,s,, a duty upc’.i imdliug lairlev they would give the Dominions a pietcrem: ~, ~,,,,-tbi ,!. and ,d-o -imilarlv • n hops. [Received (his day as c.m-' LONDON. Nov. 'A. Mr | : :nice said An-tra!ia rieogiiised the preferences given were not at tlie moment going to ensure dominion products flowing with a icriainty Into Britain. unless they oil the other side were prepared to do all necessary to keep the trade in which they had been given exceptional opportunities. They would have to improve ihe standard of gracing and packing and provide fern efficient marking. There was a possibility that the preference would not actually he effective unless the British Government could see it- wav lo take action and see that it was given effect to. There were great interests here concerned In -nethat these trade- should not get into the hands of the Dominions. and they would try dumping into this market in order to strangle the Dominion trade. Australia at present protected British mar.ufattttrers again-t dtimp’ng. therefore it was not unreasonable to as|; for reciprocal action. There was one industry, beef, in which vre were much concerned heean.se of what it means to Australia and the Empire. He thought some solution, oven if temporary. should he sought and he hoped the economic committee just appointed might seek a solution. Tn reference to the Chairman's statement in regard to committee's report on import lieeltst s he wished to make it clear that although he had made suggestions which had heen investigated, he took no responsibility for them nor did he hold a brief for the methods propped. He had indicated that Australia believed there was only one really satisfactory way and that was hv a tariff and preference. He '-.fill inettdy suggested thtTff WC

other alternatives that would ho investigated. The Chairman interpolated that there was no intention to shut out other means. It was only intended to show that the methods were impracticable, and that they must endeavour to achieve their purpose on other lines. Mr Bruce continued that he clearly recognised it was entirely a matter for the British Government to determine what it was going to do with regard to anything imported into Britain. Tt was not the business of any Dominion to exert pressure. “Above everything.” he said, “if Britain is determined against a tariff on wheat and meat, do not let us abandon the idea in doing anything tit all.” Mr Masses' endorsed Mr Bruce's remark regarding the meat ilidiisii'y.