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Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1932, Page 4

The doctrine of free trade, once widely held and practiced by the nations of the world, has now been oquady widely abandoned. Great Hrit.iiu has, with difficulty, been “endeavouring to hold her place in commercial competition with countries who e industries and products have been heavily protected and who&e markets have even in some ciuidi been virtually closed against liritisb goods. At the last Imperial Conference it was tic unanimous opinio.ii of the Dominions that it would be in (be interests of the Empi.e if the United Kingdom ad'nted a farin' policy with a view to protecting hor own industries and encouraging trade within the Umpire fann y by a system of Empire preferences. The Government, then in oflbe elected on a policy of free trade, found itself unable to fall jn with these suggestioiis t and, after r une preliminary eousidc afion of alternatives such as quotas, Import Hoards, etc., it ultimately decided to postpone the whole matter fr.n- subsequent consideration at an

Economic Conference specially to be called at Ottawa. Increasing .economic difficulties led finally to the formation of a National Government in the United Kingdom and to a decision by mat Government to. abandon the policy of free ir.u.e and to consider at Ottawa a carefully prepared and calculated policy of Imperial preference. As a first step, to this eud the British Import Duties Act of this year provided for a duty of 10 per cent, on a very large number of foreign, product;;, and further p.otec-tive measures have since been taken or remain under consideration. It ft; scarcely necessary to. say how warmly the Government and people of this Dominion appreciate. the exemption of the Dominion’s goods for the duties imposed by the Import Duties Act. They welcome the assistance that promises to be afforded to New' Zealand produce by the- preferences thus granted, in respect of which butter, cheese, and fruit are our principal products directly affected Up to the present.