The Guradian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, MAY 12th 1924. IMPERIAL FREE TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1924, Page 2

The Guradian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, MAY 12th 1924. IMPERIAL FREE TRADE.

l’ltoii.uu.v there is no economic controversy in which both sides are sft honest in their convictions and so unlikely to see each other’s point of view as is the ease in the historic clash between Free Trade and Protection, and of all quarrels of the kind, fairly remarks the “Lyttelton Times" in a late issue, it seems to be the one in which it is most difficult for partisans to avoid excited exaggerations. We have had some examples of this in the Empire-wide criticism of the decision of the British Government to reject the recommendations of the Imperial Economic Conference. The Piotectionists. amongst whom must now be numbered most of the Conservatives. at Home and abroad, have seen in the decision a "‘staggering Mow," as the “Morning Post” phrased it, to the unity of Empire, and it has been suggested that, disgusted by the unWjlljngness of the United Kingdom to

“make sacrifices” on behalf of the dominions, the latter will transfer their affection and loyalty to foreign lauds, or at any rate will regard themselves ns much a'ggi ieved and injured by the people 01 tlies Motherland. Wc arc pleased to note that Mr Massey, despite the fact that he very strongly supported the preferential tariff proposals of the Economic Conference, and pro. hahly was as keenly dis.i] pointed as anyone in the Empire at the electoral defeat of the policy Mr Baldwin built upon tho-e proposals, has been prompt to refute the implication that our loyalty to Britain depends upon wliut- we ran get out of hei in the way of trading advantages. The Prime Minister has said, and rightly so. that New Zealand’s loyalty will not he affected in the slightest. He admits that Britain never imposed a duty on New Zealand products (which is more than New Zealand ran say in the matter ol British products!, and that Britain is the best market for New Zealand goods, and likely to remain so. Mr Massey then proceeds to suggest that as the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet might consider going to the mountain—that as Britain "ill not put dr-tics on foodstuffs r,ml ru.w nil. tennis, there should hr a movement towards fiee trade in these 1 omnioditios within the Umpire. But free tunic within the Empire, surely, supposes as its corollary protection against foreign goods. Since Britain has declared against siu'li protection, what aio the dominions to do? Are they to 10linquish their own duties and prohibitions on imports from Biitain and other parts of the Empire as a first step, leaving Britain to maintain a free mnrekt as she is doing, or is the first step to free trade within the Empire the renunciation of Britain’s traditional policy in favour of duties nil foreign supplies? Apparently Air Massey does not leave the latter course entirely out of reckoning, since he goes on to argue that if preference to a certain amount were given to Imperial supplies by Britain, there need ho no increase in pi ices, since the greater reliability of the market would encourage colonial production. There is here a .suggestion that the wide fluctuations of the London market prices of our products to-day arc* in t-oiiu* measure due to free foreign competition. The general impression is that they are due to quantitative operation of the law of supply and demand. Certainly our Meal Control Board and Dairy Produce Control Board have been set up to regulate shipments for that very reason, among others. However, there is little prospect at the present time that Britain will overcome her repugnance to tariffs, and until she does so Imperial Preference and Imierial Tree Trade are alike outside the sphere cf practical politics.