ECONOMIC POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1932, Page 6

ECONOMIC POLICY

FREER TRADE CONDITIONS

OPINION IN ENGLAND

LONDON, June 29

In a broadcast message to ’ the nation on Empire Day, the Prime Minister, Mr llamsay MacDonald, made the following references to the forthcoming 'Economic Confei voce at Ottawa : /

“We are now preparing for the. Economic Conference which is due to meet in Ottawa in the middle of July. The great obstacle to-day to world prosperity (after reparations) is that of nationalism removed from its proper sphere of cultural and political liberty and made the justification for restrictions in international trade. These when carried to the lengths to which some States have carried them, mean the .iinpover&h'mejnt of the whole world. ~ “At Ottawa I believe we can lay the foundations of an economic policy which will be mutually helpful to the members of the Commonwealth, but which will not be paralysing to general world commerce. We can create freer trade conditions over a vast area of 'the world. Before the delegation leaves if will have studied with a great thoroughness which has never before been devoted to it, very aspect of the problem of Imperial preference as -a means of promoting Imperial trade; and employing Imperial labour. “The policy embodied is the Import Duties Act of .this year of exempting the Dominions, India, and Southern Rhodesia from the duties under that Act, pending an opportunity for negotiations at Ottawa, and of complete exemption for the Colonies, is a proof which nothing can set aside of how anxious the National Government is for the further development of Imperial trade oh the freest possible lines. We are confident that this generous gesture will be reciprocated.” Admiral of the Fleet, Dol’d Jellicoe, former Governor-General of New Zealand broadcast the following message declaring his faith in Ottawa: “The whole world is passing through .most difficult times; the Empire is very hard hit, and we, for that reason alone; should do all that we can individually to help the Empire as a whole, even if some 'little self-sac-rifice on the part of its people may be sometimes needed to achieve this result.

“One way in which everyone can help is by the purchase of Empire goods. If we at Home buy food and other articles produced in the Dominions'and Colonies, the people there are helped, and they in return can buy goods made in the Mother Country. ‘‘There may be' a few isolated cases in which we have to pay a litide more for Empire grown food than for foreign food, and similarly ther e may be a few. cases where our people overseas may have to pay a little more for Brifi b than for foreign goods. But if. we stick to the idea of buying Empire goods, the eventual result is bound to be for the benefit of the Empire.”