The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, 1923. PREFERENCE WITHIN THE EMPIRES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, 1923. PREFERENCE WITHIN THE EMPIRES

Duking last, week the annual meeting of tho X.Z. Employers’ Federation was held in Wellington. It was presided over by Mr T. Shader Weston, whom it is interesting to recall was one of the brightest scholars of tho local State School, something like forty years ago. Mr Weston spoke very sensibly on the subject of Empire preference, now so much before the, people, and really one of the questions being decided by the present British elections. Mr Weston's review of tho position shows the application of much thought to the subject. He remarked that it was true that the colonies are prepared to giant preference on English manufactured goods, but this is .subject to the clear condition that this preference should not interfeie with any tariff in favour wf local manufactures, and th“ strong tendency is for this preference to British. goods to cost the colonial consumer nothing. Tlie colonial demand for English goods, even to the exclusion of foreign goods, would not be equal to what the English manufacturers’ could supply. Hence the supply being greater than the demand, the competition between English firms would prevent the amount of the preferential duty being added to the price. The colonial demand for Imperial preference means, therefore, asking Great Britain to give the colonies something which, in all probability, will impose upon her an increased iost cf living in exchange for something which will co.-t the colonies nothing. The same argument applies to tho suggestions of shipping and other subsidies. These have to be paid foi out of tlie British revenue, and hence in part by the British manufacturers. Taxation is an item in their cost of production in reducing which their one hope of salvation lies, Passing

nil, he said the attitude of the colonial Premiers at the recent Imperial Conference was in striking contrast to that if tlie late Right Hun. R. .1. Seddon "hen. at his instigation, New Zeal-mi gave Gient Britain preference. From his hands it was a fiee gift made without any expectation of return and, in-

deed, as a small icturn for many benefits conferred on us in the past. For, alter all, even if preference to Gicd Britain did impose some .small pecuniary sacrifice on the colonies, which I contend it does not. is there not tlie fact that Great Biitain has provided us with an Imperial Navy, consular and diplomatic sen ices free or cost in the [last, and still, allowing that the 1 oleine- do in asc some small contributions towards naval defence, continue to do so In addition, ihc British market is the colonies' best and freest market, ami Die- Biiti-h Government for many yi.ars past has permitted colonial loans to he floated on equal terms with its own. The truth is John Bull has watched lii.s stalwart New Zealand, Australian, South African, and Canadian suns (a little hard-upi endeavour to sell him, their father, a pup and, like the nice kindly old gentleman he is, Ik. has humoured them by taking one, though a very little one. There is this lu.ither danger too, lie pointed out, in reciprocal Imperial Preference. Nations arc like individuals —they have the same feelings and prejudices., hew lamilies can conduct business deals between their inemheis without quarrolinig. May not a demand for reciprocal mid preferential treatment between Mother Country and colonies and the larimis colonies themselves cause strained irlatioii.s "l !• or example. Bradl'oul meicliants a lew mouths hack complained when Canada, after granting Great Britain pictcrence. altered 11 niodiliiAl amount of prclcienco to France in exchange lor trade opportunities. To-day Canadian paper merchants note with disfavour that Aiist!alia and New Zealand have imposed duties on pa; or which favour the I nglisl- luaiiufaetuier as against the ( m;iiliaii. As to flee trade within the Mmpiio, the British Empire, unlike the States which form the l oiled Slates u- the Geiman Iteieli, does not consist of contiguous teiritnriis. I ndcr tree Undo within ,a federation ol adjoining Stales, industries cent 10 in the locali- • ios most suited to them, and it is ■ oinparat ively easy lor the population n> dislrihute and redistribute it.sell according to when- the demand foi labour i- g -ntc-t. Within Iho widely distributed Biitisb Empire it would he much m* a* iitUiciilt 'o le-distribiitc

population accordingly as one count y proiltl' es mole cheaply a particular 1 oiiiiai>ditv. Mach nation desires to he seli-suppoi ting a- regards main essential industries, yet the natural facilities for such industries vuty as between rations nations, lienee it is difficult In see how free lia.de within the Empire can he a question of practical polities in the near future. At the same time it is an ideal to be .sought.