The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1929. EMPIRE FREE TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1929. EMPIRE FREE TRADE

V good deal of discussion lias been aking place at Home concerning the easibilitv of Empire Free Trade, and Here have been various references to he subject in our recent cable news. ■ n the forefront of the present crusade n favour or the objective of the free iiterchange of Empire products is Lord leaverbrook. The “new policy for E'mjire prosperity,’ which, he presents s very attractive in theory, but its irneticability, at least in present ciruinstances, must be regarded as doubtul. The basis of the crusade is that die Empire can supply itself with ood. Lord Beaver-brook goes into that [Uestion in some detail. “Our food .upplies then are safe,” he sums up, ‘food prices will not rise, but the armors, both of the dominions and Ireat Britain, will he guaranteed a narket for tlveir goods which will enmable them to increase production and each a- new level of prosperity.” I’hough the soundness of these repre.entations may be conceded, even if it s disputed by the Labour Governnent at Home, in so far as the price of foodstuffs is concerned, there is an>ther aspect of the matter which involves a certain conflict between the viewpoints of the dominions and the Mother Country. This must be realised when the question of the export market of Great Britain and the import market of the dominions is considered. Lord Beaverbrook argues that, so far from tending to eliminate or handicap the infant industries of the dominions, Empire Free Trade is designed to strengthen them, and give them fresh opportunities for expansion and development. His explanation of how this is to be brought about is hardly of a kind, it is to he feared, that is likely to carry much weight with the dominions at the present time. He agrees that a measure of protection for certain industries is absolutely essential, even against imnorts from other parts of the Empire, while lie enlarges upon the benefits that would accrue from the welding of the Empire as a single economic group, the interests of which would be preserved by a tariff wall against the rest of the world, it is easy, says the Otago Times, to appreciate the force of the arguments in favour of the economic combination of the nations of the Empire. They possess a cogency that may well seem to be irresistible in their relation to the progress of the Empire as a whole. Yet the actual conditions within the Empire have to he faced. Tn practice the manufacturers of the dominions would require much more convincing and more specific assurances respecting the security of their position than have so far been put forward by the protagonists of Empire Free Trade, Sir James Pari-, High Commissioner, Im.s

expressed his belief that it is not beyond the ability oi' shrewd, capable business men to make such an adjustment as would admit of a satisfactory solution of the problem arising from tiie fear of the dominions that their industries would he swamped by cheaper goods. That apprehension certainly represents the aspect of the scheme of Empire Free 'trade that scorns to be fatal to the prospects of success for the crusade in support of

... in present circumstances. Australia has recently raised her tariff wall, and the Prime Minister lias stated that he would much prefer that Britiisli manufacturers should establish l.painoh industries in the Commonwealth than that they should ask, Australia to import their goods. Impracticable as the idea of Empire Free Trade at the present time may appear in the face' of greater obstacles, -me attainment of greater sradc reciprocity within the Empire is an oOjactive that is worthy of every effort than can be made to bring it about. In the meantime increased preferences possibly represent the most hopeful line of advance towards the economic unity of the Empire and the greater development of Empire trade.