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Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1929, Page 4

Reudkrs will recall the r.erent delaratiori' of Prime Minister MacDonald to : the- effect -that he is an internationalist! That state of heart oncl mind is evidently specially centred in the Labour policy. It is probably for that rea-on that a London commercial ionrnal remarked last- month that it has been a soni ,; e of surmise in the past to those who .have felt the urgent need for stimulating inter-imperial trade that organised labour in Great Britain has neither shown a clear realization of the fact,, nor offered enthusiastic support. The benefits of a greater Empire trade would be felt at least as much by industrial workers as by any other section of the community. The openng of the sixty-first Trades Union . congress at Belfast th/s month supplied some evidence that the position is at least changing/, and that the trades union leaders are beginning to appreciate the noss bilities and necessity for clorer inter- T mperial e onomic relations. Mr Bon Tillett’s presidential address, admittedly, cannot he taken as the opinion of the Congress and there is. /little evidence that it yet represent anythin? approaching the general view of British trades unionists, but at the same time his advocacy of closer Empire co-operation shows which way the wind is blowing. Mr Tillett, basing his argument ’on’ industrial data, stressed especially our need for increased export trade if •industry is to be ■ able to absorb the •unemployed and the yearly batch of new entries, and pointed out that the British Empire has a greater potential home consumption, a larger population, vaster territories, and greater natural resources than the United States. The trade union movement, he said must follow with the closest attention proposals for the organisation of the Empire as an economic unit. Inter-Im-perial trade could he fostered without the risk of economic warfare with either Europe or America. The trades unions have no doubt a considerable wav to go before thev offer., their wholehearted support to those who are seekt. in? to strengthen the economic bonds of Empire, hut it is at least significant that it should be possible to find the expression of such views in a presidential address to the Congress. It. remains to be spen. however, bow tlie financial policy of the Labour Government will shaue itrelf wben Mr Snouden produces his B’d?et.