The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is. incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1929. EMPIRE TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is. incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1929. EMPIRE TRADE.

Lord Bkaverurook is again to the fore with his advocacy of trade within the Empire. A cable message published on Wednesday indicated his lordship had been plying the Government representative in the House of Lords with a pointed question on the subject. Lord Ann,ld, who replied on behalf of the Government indicated something of a “ta-ilioa” pdiey regarding free trade within the Empire, anil proposes to ask the Imperial Economic Conference to consider means of increasing Imperial trade. When the Labour Government recently went into office at Home, the possible effect of the change in the administration on the trade and commerce of Great Britain, and the importance of Empire development were closely discussed by the Associated Chambers of Commerce at Edinburgh. The observation of Sir Walter

liain_ey (in liis#: i>i;esiclq;t(i:u]. address-.that . the; Go.veniiiK’nt vl.as far more likely to disappoint its extreme followers- than to upset the; calculations of the business community wifi find general agreement, and i there is not the slightest doubt that, ,i,f the linn stand taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at The Hague in support of British interests. represents .'tire-, (Attitude of the r present Government in other matters which perhaps even more directly concej'nvtjie wel£nre».»f the trade., and industry .of the country, the improvement .in trade -tjUlt ' has . manifested itself_..during the past- twelye months liquid/contiline On the other .hand, .ijiejfao.vernni.cnt must he warned of the lisas.tj-o.us consequences-• that might fob -'ow.auy departure tr im orthodoxy. In egarcl.to Empire trade, it is sincere'v to be hoped "that u the .rill ,not withdraw, the preference duties accorded by Great Britain to eer‘ain Empire' products, for these con-es'-ions mean much to the Empire )roducer, and their withdrawal would undoubtedly seriously affect the growth T iutsr-Imperial trade, not the least important aspect of which to manufacturers in'this country is the sale <f their goods in the Dominion markets,. -the demand for which can obviously ho- stimulated by our larger in rebuses from their own producers, me need for more permanent methods than-those at present in'operation for fhe systematic development of Empire resources was voiced at the- meeting, the uiltimate object being the setting up by the Government of an Empire Development Board, and it is also iiopecl that before the next Imperial Conference consideration will he given to the advisability of adopting a policy' of greater freedom in connection with the circulation of goods and *biniiiodities between the various parts of the Empire. With the need for developing the Empire so much in mind at this time, it was perhaps to be ex-' pected that the suggested formation of a Euroviean Economic Union, which was brought forward at the League of Nations, should lie discussed by the delegates. This is-a decidedly complex matter, in view of the efforts which are now being made to develop the British Empire into one economic unit, and there is. evident need for an exami tuition of the details of the problem in its relationship to Great Britain and the Empire, and also tiie rest of the world. Lord Arnold’s statement of the position this week, quite bears out the above Home comment and indjeates that the Government charged with the effective control of the matter is not likely to move hurriedly, but with a due regard for all the circumstances of a complex situation, and is going to have the whole matter carefully reviewed hv a conference of experts.