Improvement of Communication.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8807, 8 May 1907, Page 2

Improvement of Communication.

London - , May 7. , Mr Lloyd George, in the course of his gpoech, said the Government fully shared Sir Joseph Ward’s desire to bring the colonies nearer. Go* vermaeut realised that the Empire grew or produced almost everything it needed. The problem was how to. bring the products to the markets at rates which would not unduly 'handicap the colonies in the competition with foreign countries. Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Wilfred Laurier and others held that the best way was to reduce the gatijfal disadvantage of distance and thus ensure prompt and aheap delivery of food and' raw materials. Mr Lloyd George admitted that the acceleration of inter-imperial com* munication would benefit all and meant increased facilities for the sale of goods, the general develop-ment-of trafte; opportunities ,for extended emigration and an advance, towards the unity of the Empire. The Government had no connote

he believed, beyond the resources pt statesmanship. While preferential tariffs must involve duties on corn and raw materials and increasing prices improve transport facilities would probably cheapen the prices of colonial products. He did not propose then to submit a definite plan. It would be better to elaborate schemes slowly after thinking out the problem. When such schemes were prepared and presented with the full responsibility of the respective Governments each Government would examine and confer further.