The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1930. EMPIRE TPADING.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1930. EMPIRE TPADING.

The trade, situation at Hofiie is- driving public opinion in the clireetion of mss trading throughout the Empire, 'hie deisire loir Uie largest possible oohomie units co-operaimg is response also for the JdrencL attempt to .•reate a Unitc-d States of Europe. Tariff walls are growing up. round >i countries in the'wish to deal with Jic internal economic situation. This .oi/ion assists to 'close out former rading sources, and the pinch is elt elsewhere. Because of this there s a growing feeling in the consti.uciit parts of the British Oomnion.eajth, that there j\vou Id be rejlief lid an advantage by freer trading /ithin the Empire itself. The principle of this belief is existent already • a the preference accorded to British 1 imimfactured goods, but the desire s to see this concession more, ljber-l-iUy and uniformly applied, , . The, Chambers of atAlpmA are ■oncentrating on the subject .-realising die potentialities' of trading within he Empire if directed on a pernialent basis. On this aspect it has hen agreed as a,definite lino of aeJon to endeavour to develop the conomic. relations between the eonititueht parts of the JSmpire, There ■/as also a free debate in the C’olmnons on the same subject, and later -he whole question is 1 to be reviewed t the Imperial Economic Conference bortly to take place in London, vlembers of Parliament showed a lcar feeling of unanimity on the irineiple of int-e-r-Einpire trade, delaring that it should be fostered by very means possible. There will of A'ir.se be difficulties in the way. Can'da does not show full agreement vith its New Zealand treaty obligations, because, although the trade balance is in its favour, the lnitter tent from Now Zealand affects the ■eturns of the Canadian farmer. Then : n relation to .Australia and New Zealand, wo asked and received generous treatment regarding timber sent to Australian ports, but the Labour Party is not happy here 1 bout the quantity of Newcastle - coal coming into New Zealand because of the. curtailment of orders for T)ominion mines. These instances djsolose inherent difficulties which inust not be, nor are thoy likely to be, disregarded when matters approach finality. Probably it will bo found tligt Empire trading cap come only by degrees. and in restricted doses. But it will be advantageous to have a plain declaration on' the matter, and when the Premiers are at- the round table, greater unity might be generated, and some further practical advance made in the matter. The Home Government realises the wav is not dear to a complete acceptance of the propo.stion, because Britain desires great advantages from overseas trading;. This she cannot afford to sacrifice. Britain lias been at pains to fniild-up closer trading relations with the Argentine, and anything done within the Empire could not affect 11.0 agreements reached with the important customer in South America. The movement, 100, for a United States of Europe, cannot be ignored by Great Britain. So close to Europe, so much involved in lEuj-pppan affairs, Britain again cannot afford to jeopardise trading ro!‘ ,t; "ns with the countries of Europe which must be assisting industrial England so much. The lead taken by the United Slates of North. America, in adopting a tariff which is the highest in point of protective duties in the history of the country, requires to be watched also, to weigh the advantages of such

an extreme step. America is bitting some of her neighbours such as Canada and Cuba very severely, and results have to ‘bo awaited. There will be retaliations no doubt, but the

trade dh,organic-, ilion will not lie mended immediately ill any case. In so difficult a situation it seems to be an urgent necessity that New Zealand .should have its Prime Minister at the Imperial Conference, and it will be regretted if the parties in Parliament do not carry out the gentleman’s agreement and allow Mr Forbes to depart without any fear of any overt act by the Opposition in bis absence. The ~ i' ”, r" '""l meetings fo the Premiers will do more to ad-, vane©’ Empire trading than any tariffs or treaties prepared at a distance, allt i the need for attendance of our Premier is therefore of paramount importance.