IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1930, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

THE AGENDA. Speaking in the House of Commons at the end of July, the Prime Minister (Mr Ramsay MacDonald) made the following statement as to the agenda for the Imperial Conference : The Imperial Conference will afford an opportunity tor a general review and discussion of all matters, both in the political and economic spheres, of common . interest to the members of the British Commonwealth under the following heads

(1) Imer-imperial relations. (2) Foreign policy and defence

(3) Economic questions. As regards inter-imperial relations particular questions for consideration will be the recommendations of the recent Conference ,on the Operation of Dominion Legislation, including certain matters expressly mentioned in the Report of that Conference as requiring further examination—-name-ly, nationality and the suggested Tribunal for the determination of inter-Imperial disputes; also other matters of a constitutional character cognate to and arising from those discussed in the Report of the InterImperial Relations Committee of the Conference of 1926. Under the head oi? nationality'the special question of the position pf married women will, bo included. ■ "

As regards foreign policy and defence the agenda' will coyer the further development of a peace and arbitration policy. This heading will include the question of the reduction and limitation of armaments, together with any specific subjects connected with foreign policy which may require examination, and various aspects of defence. On the economic side the following will be the main headings:—

(a) General question of the trade of the Empire, including capital investments arid ‘ establishment of branch industries, the effect of successive tariff changes and the extent and effect of inter-imperial tariff preferences, and also of other factors such as cartels etc-; ■ (b) Bulk purchase and price stabilisation; ((»)„ Development of inter-imperial trade by. Ti-ade, .Commissioner services, exhibition, and general publicity; . !;:• f

(d) Oversea settlement; (e) The past and future work of the Imperial Economic Committee, the Empire Marketing Board, and the Imperial Institute; ■ (f) Questions of co-operation in agricultural: research (including cotton growing) > forestry and minerals ; •(g) Special meetings of experts on industrial, research and standardisation; . ~ (h) Transport and ■ ■communications, including review of the work of the Imperial' Shipping Committee and the Oversea ■ Mechanical Transport Council, survey of steamship services, development of civil aviation, cable, radio broadcasting, postal, and news services. Under this heading would come also the question of the P 1 oposed agreements relating to merchan shipping legislation recommended m the Report of the Conference on the Operation of Dominion Legislation.