FREE TRADE POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1929, Page 5

FREE TRADE POLICY

EVOKES CRITICISM

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, July 12. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Philip Snowden’s threat to drop the preference duties has aroused keen controversy. Newspapers are publishing lengthy cables from the Dominions stressing that a loss of trade will inevitably ensue, apart from the larger issue of linking up the Empire. The “Daily Telegraph” says: It is now evident that Mr Snowden’s announced intention has seriously disturbed the public mind in each of the Dominions. Even a slight knowledge of public feeling in the Empire overseas would have warned Mr Snowden that preference was not regarded solely as a matter of business. It is regarded as a manifestation of sympathy and as a desire for a more intimate inter-imperial relationship. The “Daily Telegraph ” refers to Air Snowden’s tentative proposal for a special Imperial Economic Conference to see what can be done to extend inter-imperial trade. The paper also dwells on the idea favoured, it says, here and ill the Dominions, of a conference of experts to work out a concerted policy of Empire trade, which may subsequently be submitted to an Imperial Conference, such as Mr Snowden suggests. The “Daily Telegraph” says it believes that the time is ripe for the adoption of both of these proposals. It stresses the statement that therefore it is most vital that the prospect should not be prejudiced either by premature or ill-considered declarations of the Government’s intention on the om hand, or the brandishing of unauthorised fiscal programmes by individuals of the opposite party on the other hand.