EMPIRE TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1930, Page 6

EMPIRE TRADE

NO HOPE OF UNANIMITY SEEN. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, October 25. “I see no hope of unanimity on the question :of promoting inter-Empire trade,” declared the Rt. Hon. G. W • Forbes, when interviewed by the “Sunday Dispatch.” “The British Government has adopted the attitude of ‘No Surrender,’ and this, I consider, has precluded any possibility ot real progress in accepting Mr Philip Snowden’s view’ of preferential tariffs. I see no hope in the quota system anti New Zealand is generally opposed to the idea of bulk purchasing. Though I believe that the conference is doomed to be abortive except in matters like co-operation, I do not regret coming personally in contact with the leading British representatives.”

BRITAIN’S IMPORT TRADE

LONDON, October 25,

Mr Parker Moloney declared that it was most unfortunate that the large import trade of Great Britain was being frittered away to foreign countries, when it might aid in the stability of the Empire.

THRILLS FOR THE DELEGATES

LONDON, October 26. Acrobatic displays by the Royal Air

Force, including rolling, rocketing, looping, diving, and high speed fighting manoeuvres, were features of the gramme of the Imperial Conference •delegates for their visit to Croydon, which took place in wintry weather The delegates, of whom Mr J. H. Scullin was the only Australian Minister present, had lunch at the aerodrome hotel, after inspecting a wide variety of civil and military aircraft, and seeing air liners coming in from the Continent against a strong wind. After that tw’o single-seater gamecock highspeed fighters gave a thrilling exhibition of co-ordinated acrobatics, climbing perpendicularly, rolling, and then diving towards the ground at a tremendous speed. A squadron of day bombers of the latest Hart type, gave a formation display, finishing with a deafening roar as the nine machines dived and swept across the aerodrome at high speed and at a low altitude. The last three experimental types of tutogyro, tailless pterodoctyl and gugnune, biplane provided a contrast with high-speed flying, all remaining stationary in the air for some minutes. They showed versatility in quickly gathering speed after hovering. They also neatly carried out the performance for-which they were primarily designed—landing in a confined space and coming to rest after running a few feet. - Indeed tbe autogyro did not seem to move after touching the ground. A squadron of Siskin single-seater fighters provided the concluding thrill, taking off in threes tied together with cords, even looping with such precision that the cords remained unbroken. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, wearing flying kit including a parachute and plus fours, flew for Chequers. Messrs Scullin, Forbes and others had brief flights over London in a triple-engined Imperial Airways liner.

PR OTR A CTED DISCUSSTONS,

LONDON, October 25

The heads of the delegations have been chiefly concerned with the des’ve to speed Mip the conclusion of the conference. They had expected to receive reports from the principal committees on Friday, hut these were not forthcoming, hut it is reported that on attempt to force early reports would result in failure to attain *ngreed-to reports. They decided, therefore, to content themselves with a general recommendation to the committees to get a move on. Tt is learned that the South African and Irish Free State delegates continue hair-splitting in the Sankey Legal Committee. They have failed to originate an alternative title to “His Britannic Majesty.” The point, therefore. is likely to he dropped. The same Dominions are objecting to a clause in British trade treaties, insisting that equal privileges should he available to all Dominions. Their anxiety seems to he to obtain all costs or suggestion of any thereof derivable from the British connexion. Another question which is causing much discussion is whether the Dominions should legislatively give effect to the 1926 status declaration in the laws already on tlie statute books. Tbe majority of the Dominion delegates desire that tbe question should be left entirely to their own discretion.

The delegates of Australian and New Zealand are aiming for at least a fortnight’s interval after the conference for a tour in the provinces before proceeding for home.

ECONOMIC CO-OPEHATTON. RUGBY. Octoer 24. A meeting of the heads of the delegations to the Imperial Coherence held this afternoon, reviewed the position of the work of the Conference. The hopes that reports of some of the committeesr appointed by the Conference might he ready for examination hv the end of the week were not realised, hut progress in committee continues. Further steps were taken to-day to wards the completing of the final report of the Committee on lnter-Tm-perial Relations, some of its subcommittees having reported.

The General Economic Committee is also engaged in drafting its final report. The Economic Co-operation Committee, under the President of the Board of Trade (Mr W. Graham), has decided to go into more detail as to the steps other than tariff that might he taken to secure closer co-operation. Three sub-committees for this purpose were set up. One will consider the practicability of applying the machinery of such schemes as bulk purchase, import boards, and quota, to canned goods. The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and South Africa are represented on this committee. A similar sub-committee, on which the United Kingdom, Australia. Canada, New Zealand, and the Irish Free State are represented will deal with butter, cheese, eggs, bacon, and poultry. The third sub-committee is to investigate the possibilities in regard to fresh fruit and comprises representatives of the United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. CONSERVATIVE PARTY TO MEET. LONDON, October 24. Lord Melohett and Lord Elibank, in a letter to a newspaper, welcome Mr Stanley Baldwin’s declaration ns pledging him and the Conservative Party to a free hand for negotiations for closer Empire economic unity, including the necessary foreign food taxes for which they have been striving. Mr Baldwin has summoned a meeting of Conservative members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, to he held on October 30th.