The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. Tuesday, November 18, 1930.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. Tuesday, November 18, 1930.

c'ulv x HuiVUiuniHUj *.vw, AxOii. Ui W, a Ui wupj ,tJ'; U.y VuviU liOwaj *iiituLU UtO autu,»»»i tuiilg ri'£wkj.uS li| Uiic icli COiUvlulK'vl • J.AI* V* da LU UU3 'u uUO U»-kX »vil Luo Ai-ociiCi jitliU. ah ui-bwi-Liuumg, vjc»cui is Wie Lmst caste.am' ior -sc w pi ounce, just us the Dominion *5 per capita, tne best customer lor Diuusn Actually Lae jontisli market is tue cnier trade cqiue-etiun, wmeu lias been Ount up iioni tae earnest yeurs 01 export. New Zealand, ior its pare, has not been 'Unnnnunil uf- the trailing advuntagesi and tvir Forbes before leaving carried-The 'preteren.eei policy of the country much further .than it lias ever been, taken iu the-hope of securing more intimate relations still, in lhs linai address at the. Conference, he hit off the position very plainly, and said What, exactly met-(the general situation and outlook. Mr Forbes is, therefore, *‘to be congratulated til his happy remarks, and while lie ba» not secured his major objective, lie has left the way open for realisation when a more favourable political eet of circumstances prevail. After all, the question at Home, as Mr Forbes openly realised, is governed by the set tffscal policy of the country towards free trade. There are certain principles in respect to tariff roiuim which the Labour and Liberal parties adhere to very closely, and that is not to tax food supplies. The Government of the day because of .ts adhesion to the principles- referred to, is not prepared to depart from 1 hem. Mr Forbes, at the same time, was able to illustrate to his auditors and subsequent readers, just what tire policy meant. He showed how Russia and other foreign countries were able to take advantage of the British markets, while New Zealasd, which pro- • duoed on a higher human scale, suffered the loss of trade, and to that extent robbed New Zealand of the means to do more trade with the British manufacturers. The position was put admirably, and the sensible remarks must fall on good ground, and the seed take effect in due course. Mr Forbes as an interpreter of true inter-imperial relations was clearly logical, and his clear exposition of tile situation must go iar to clear the minds of many what is the true value and effect of those relations. The press will take the matter up further, and are sure to elaborate the points made by Mr Forbes which are altogether in the interests of the Empire. To that extent, the Conference lias not been wasted, and there nvc hill greater and more certain possibilities to develop. Mr Forbes has told the British manufacturer oi ,the field which awaits him in New /••a--laml Actually the British manufacturer has a 20 to 25 per cent advantage over the foreigner in the Dominion customs tariff. Tt is ‘‘-•‘id t t almost half of the >£22.000.000 <»i British exports to New Zealand enter duty free. Tt is a fact that no connrry within the F.mnire enters more, uenilv into the practice of the pr<neinle Of Firmin' froo trade, and thus fact must h-a- fr-it in dim conrs-'. Realisation of the facts and advent-e to Great, Britain of this preserved Had must bring home to the people ol the Old Land what in happening in rvea Zealand, and that will carry v. t , i a conviction which should he usyr-d to the trade of the Dominion. A'hik it is a fact that world-wide conditions

are making 'themselves felt here as elsewhere, it is possible lor practical relief to come from the British market, where so much of our produce finds a sale. Prices are depressed at present, but the popularity of the New Zealand goods should assist to increase consumption and so help the trade of the country. It is a matter for regret that the Imperial Conference did not hasten that result, but our Prime Minister, at all (.vents, has said and done his best and with the seed sown we must await the results which forecasts suggest are lively possible.