The Guardian And Evening Star, with, which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1927. EMPIRE TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with, which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1927. EMPIRE TRADE.

The lit. Hon. S. M. Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, is a vigorous upholder of the Empire and its rights. He is disposed particularly to the fostering of trading interests. On this subject he made an interesting"statement in the British Empire Review. He said that possibly the outstanding achievement of the Imperial Conference of 192 G lies in the Resolutions which it lias formulated and adopted on the political structure of the Empire. These are of vital importance as making clear the firm basis of unity upon which all our policies rest, and as clearing the ground for further progress in the future. I believe, however. that the problem of Empire trade must be solved, and solved as satisfactorily as the problem of political relations, if we are to ensure that the genuine solidarity of the British Commonwealth shall remain as unshaken in the future as it is to-day. It is now generally recognised how valnnble the various countries of the Empire are to one another reciprocally, as sources of supply and markets, and I believe that if is also coming to be better understood how much more valuable they can be in the future, if we set about a wise policy of developing our resources and organising our trade. Three years ago, at the Imperial Conference of 1923, I suggested that this great aim could

best be achieved in the ease of certain commodities through the adoption of a reciprocal system of fiscal preferences. Unfortunately, the result ot the adoption of that suggestion hy the Brii tish Government was simply to entangle Imperial'questions with the domestic controversies of Great Britain. That particular line of approach is now put out of court hy the pledges given hy the present British Government after the last election, and J am happy to think that during the next few years the people of Britain, as well as the citzeus of the other British communities, will he enabled to view the Umpire's economic problems direct, instead of through the distorting spectacles of party prejudice. The recent Conference laid it down that the best course cl action to follow was to concentrate on scientific and economic research, and on organisation. I believe that there are great possibilities of development and progress lying in these directions, and that Umpire trade as a whole will be the more efficient, and Empire citizens the more prosperous. for the successful application of such policies. Only the future can show whether these things alone will solve our problems, and in particular whether they will solve the economic problems of Britain, whose trade is meeting with greatly intensified competition from rivals who have already adopted, to a considerable extent the policies recommended to the Empire bv the Conference. .Meantime, the thing that is needed to .supplement research and organisation is an active realisation hy all the British peoples of what the Empire means to them, and to their economic future. To organise the application of science to industry, to organise transport, distribution, and marketing methods—these things are essential—but it is equally essential to organise buying power, to mobilise tlie demand in Britain and the Dominions, and to ensure its con eontration on the purchase of Empire products in every case where they are available. In this last field Governments ran help, hut in last resort it is a matter for effort by voluntary oranisations who are closely in touch with the mass of the people, and still more for individual citizens themselves men and women, in their daily lives